Re: Sister FRANCES AMATA CURRAN in Philadelphia, PA 2010
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In reply to:
Sister FRANCES AMATA CURRAN in Philadelphia, PA 2010
Charlene Reinhart 7/31/10
IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE
DECEASED SISTERS OF SAINT JOSEPH – 2006-11
Sister Frances Amata Curran
Sister Frances Amata Curran died at St. Joseph Villa on, July 29, 2010. Her Mass of Christian Burial also took place at St. Joseph Villa on August 4.
Sister Frances, who was baptized Mary, was born to John and Frances Curran on July 29, 1929.She and her two brothers, John and Frances, grew up in a loving family devotedly faithful to Christian, Catholic spirit and values.Praying the rosary daily was the norm for the Curran family.
Because of these, Frances was imbued early with a sense of God’s loving presence, which was nurtured, and which grew and matured throughout her life.Someone was supposed to have called her a saint to whom a second person replied, “But she was so funny”.
It is hard to separate holiness from joy or even from humor.It couldn’t be done in Frances’ case.She could have been the model for the song, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”.This was probably true when she was a student at Corpus Christi School and at Hallahan High School; it was most certainly true during her days in the Novitiate at Chestnut Hill, and beyond that time when she served in her various missions.
Sister Frances worked in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Arlington, VA; she ministered in elementary and secondary education, serving as teacher, principal and school secretary. She also served the Congregation, as local coordinator.Before coming to the Villa as a resident, Frances served as school secretary at St. Rita School in Arlington, VA, where she was known as the “Good Will Ambassador”.Not only was her good will shown in her support, her friendliness and her good humor, but also in her expertise.When Sister Frances took a trip to Ireland, her principal commented that it took four people to manage the school office.
From the days of myths and legends, names have been considered significant.Babies have been given names with the hope that they would imitate and live up to the virtues of the persons for whom they were named; heroes were given names for the feats they accomplished.Mary Curran was given the name, Amata, at her Reception into the Sisters of St. Joseph.Although she had a head start in realizing God’s love in her life, that realization grew, matured and manifested itself in her kindness, generosity, humility and selflessness. As S. Anne Myers suggested, “Her relationship with Jesus is aptly described in our Constitutions, which say, ‘we center our lives increasingly on Christ Jesus as the ground of our being and trust that through this relationship we grow as loving persons who are joyfully in God’s service’.
http://www.ssjphila.org/Archivelst.htm#FAChttp://www.ssjphila.org/Archivelst.htm#FAC