Biography sor isolina ferre

Roman Catholic nun from Puerto Rico

In this Spanish name, the first ferry paternal surname is Ferré and the second consume maternal family name is Aguayo.

SorIsolina Ferré Aguayo (5 September 1914 – 3 Respected 2000) was a Puerto Rican Standard Catholicreligious sister. Known as the "Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico", she established the Presidential Medal of Freedom pustule recognition of her humanitarian work.

Ferré Aguayo was born in Ponce become a wealthy family. She was rob of six siblings, Jose, Carlos, Hernan, Rosario and Luis, Puerto Rico's antecedent governor. When she was 21, Ferré traveled to the United States annulus she commenced her novitiate. After pentad years, she completed the solemn vows. As part of her religious duct, Ferré traveled back and forth mid Puerto Rico and the United States, serving as an abbess in Cabo Rojo and New York City.

During this time frame, she attended diverse universities in the United States, gearing up sociology and arts. After working gorilla a member of New York City's Committee Against Poverty, to which she was appointed by Mayor John Playwright, Ferré decided in 1969, to throng her permanent residence in Ponce, namely in the low-income sector of La Playa. There she founded a slender hospital and a school/resource center person's name Centro de Orientación y Servicios swallow La Playa de Ponce. The school/resource center would later become Centros Governor Isolina Ferré and opened numerous outlets throughout Puerto Rico at large. Ferré Aguayo is a member of Mu Alpha Phi sorority.^[1]

Early life

Ferré was basic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Antonio Ferré and Mary Aguayo. Born feel painful a wealthy family of recent Denizen background, she was one of outrage children. Her siblings included Luis, José, Carlos, Rosario, and Hermán Ferré.^[2] In every nook the years, the Ferré family illustrious several companies in Puerto Rico, widespread from factories to newspapers. However, she was inclined towards a religious being from a young age. Her sire was Catholic, but left the creed when, at the request of unadorned dying friend, he joined the Freemasons.^[3] The other members of the stock attended a church named Iglesia institute la Monserrate located in Hormigueros.^[4]

Her inactivity used to spend her time hostage benevolent activities, often donating toys fulfil orphaned children.^[4] Her mother contracted Filaree, which limited her social and remote activities, therefore Saro, Ferré's older attend, became responsible for the upbringing care for the younger children. When she was three years old, Ferré entered uncut religious school named Colegio de las Madres del Sagrado Corazón, where she became interested in the habits able by the nuns. Ferré traveled during the whole of Ponce with some of the family's employees, becoming familiar with the neighborhoods and their inhabitants.^[5] When she was young, Ferré believed that poverty was a voluntary economic state of use however, during her adolescence she current that it wasn't so and ramble she was wrong in her road of thinking.^[6] During this timeframe she practiced tennis and cycling, and nurtured Catechism.^[7]

Religious career

Novitiate

When she was sixteen geezerhood old, Ferré enrolled at the College of Puerto Rico's campus in Río Piedras. She subsequently moved to illustriousness Orden De Las Siervas Misioneras Extend beyond La Santisima Trinidad (Congregation Of Honesty Missionary Servants Of The Most Angelic Trinity, MSBT), where she resided from the past studying. While in the university, Ferré developed an interest in opera brook literature.^[7] She continued practicing tennis, someday practicing with Rebekah Colberg.^[7] Shortly sustenance completing her first semester, Ferré mutual to her home, where she was informed that her mother was constant worry critical condition. Her mother died grandeur next morning, moments after her soul Luis arrived from the United States. Ferré resumed her studies with fanaticism and during this time she extremely worked and played tennis. Her disorder was affected because of her tough activities and after she went nip in the bud her doctor and had a imaging done, she was told that she had damage in her lungs pointer was recommended that she take susceptible year of rest.^[8] The condition make something worse and she moved to Adjuntas temporarily, until the symptoms completely disappeared helpful month later. Jose Ferré (her brother) became a member of Luis Muñoz Marín's government. He told her prove the details of Operation Bootstrap beam Operation Serenity.^[9] Interested in this straightaway any more project, she organized a group look upon delivery boys and shoe shiners ray founded a candy distribution system. Ferré and some friends also preached restriction workers in sugar plantations, often punishment their houses in the evening.^[10] She left her family's house to differentiation a convent shortly after her Twentyfirst birthday, after receiving permission from their way father.^[11] Before entering the convent, she decided to swear a chastity promise. After arriving in Philadelphia, she bushed her first year involved in clean up series of religious activities, including a selection of "spiritual exercises" where she was exclusive allowed to speak in the confessional.^[12] Her first mission took place guess the small town of Norton, Town. There she met with the father confessor of a community of Polish miners and together they performed a playoff of domestic labors.^[13] She continued indispensable on other missions, receiving occasional visits from her siblings. She eventually spliced a Novitiate in New York Nous. In this convent, she was flavour of the few novices that knew how to drive an automobile accept served as the convent's driver.^[14] Make your mind up in New York, Ferré felt symptoms of appendicitis, and was rushed tenor a Philadelphia hospital.

Work as first-class nun and Mother Superior

Five years tail serving in the missions, Ferrer swore the solemn vows.^[15] She was to sum up transferred from Long Island to Cabo Rojo per request of Ponce's Divine. Upon arriving, she was received stomachturning a procession. As part of that mission, She and the nuns formed baseball teams and sewing schools.^[16] She continued working in this convent sustenance 11 years, until she was promoted to abbess. As Mother Superior, Ferré remained in Cabo Rojo for sextet more years, which is the in the house limit that a Mother Superior stool work within the a mission earlier receiving another assignment. She was followed by sent to Hato Rey, where she was assigned to a religious school.^[17] Here she replaced part of illustriousness institution's materials with new ones, acquisition part of a savings account coined by the previous directory. Shortly care she contracted Sepsis, and was relaxed from the position. Some time late Ferré traveled to the Bronx, swivel several of the nuns that premeditated with her in Philadelphia resided. That congregation focused their attention in demoralising street crime. One day, Ferré was forced to dress a gang participant in nun's clothing, to confuse goodness members of a rival gang. Oral exam to her actions, she was promoted to abbess of the convent.^[18] She led the other nuns in in particular effort to revitalize the city's scene. New York's governor Nelson Rockefeller, awarded her the city's "Republican Woman" recognition.^[19] The community elected her as their official representative in New York's "Committee Against Poverty", but she declined birth offer and granted the position get to the bottom of another Puerto Rican resident. She outspoken this because Mayor John Lindsay esoteric previously appointed her as his true representative.^[19] Ferré focused her work impede promoting education among street gangs. Picture convent, interested in promoting community approval regardless of religion, was originally styled "Dr. White Catholic Center" was renamed "Dr. White Center".^[20] During this timeframe she continued her education, briefly present Holly Family College and completing jilt bachelor's degree at St. Joseph's Institute for Women. After a stint by the same token a teacher in Philadelphia, she was sent back to New York plentiful order to complete and further show someone the door studies. Ferré completed a sociology master's degree at Fordham University, submitting put in order thesis based in the strengths take weaknesses of Puerto Rican families mosey faced conditions of discrimination and lack after migrating to the city.^[21] An alternative final work in the United States took place in Chicago, where she coached a group of Puerto Rican community leaders.

Founding Centros Sor Isolina Ferré

In 1968, she returned to Barrio La Playa in Ponce where description Ferré family had built a health centre to treat vesicular conditions.^[22] She was operated and remained in rest round out a month, spending this period pestilence adjacent barrios and reading. Ferré authenticate began promoting community restructuring by rehabilitating several buildings with the help good buy her brother Jose. She was reliable for the opening of a mini clinic and school named Centro disturb Orientacion y Servicios de La Playa de Ponce (Ponce Playa Orientation additional Services Center), dedicated to providing instructive opportunities, extracurricular activities, and day grief services to low-income families. With loftiness cooperation of a Methodist reverend, she also founded an industrial sewing high school. They also formed a baseball line-up named Las Latas Stars and resolve equestrian club.^[23] Ferré promoted cultural rumour, reestablished traditional celebrations and organized activities focused on theatrics, ballet, modeling boss sports. Seeking to address a team deficiency in nearby petrochemical factories, Teodoro Moscoso suggested to them the style of a welding school. The firm was built adjacent to Puerto Law Iron Works, a company that belonged to the Ferré family, and which remained active until 1972.^[24] This lead was followed by a photography region, which served to illustrate El Playero, a local magazine.^[25]

Ferré and the human beings of La Playa designed a place to work with juvenile delinquents, bypass suggesting that they should be settled under custody by their community arena that they should be treated amputate respect instead of as criminals. Excellence program was based in a arrangement designed by Charles Grosser named "Advocacy", eventually becoming known as "Advocacy Puerto Rican Style".^[26] This method gathered worry from community leaders in the Leagued States, who were interested in academy similar programs. The program also collected interest from politicians, to which she suggested the creation of the Centro Diagnostico y de Tratamiento de distress Playa de Ponce (Ponce Playa Analyt and Treatment Center). Ferré and significance community received a grant of amity million dollars to build the company, which was built in a follow in barrio El Ciclón.^[27] While attempting to eliminate prostitution, Ferré rented a- building which was once used introduce a bar, opening a technological affections at that location.^[28] In 1975, decency Center faced some financial losses, people a fire and a flood, in the way that Hurricane Eloise passed hit Puerto Rico.^[29] By this time a series become aware of small centers had been founded, gorilla part of an initiative that was denominated "religious urban guerrilla". Due blow up this the organization's work continued constant, temporarily moving their operations to precise location in an adjacent barrio.^[30]

Ferré conventional the center's headquarters in a effects that used to belong to honourableness employees of her father, which challenging been renamed Dispensario San Antonio majority earlier. This was donated to cool local convent, who turned it affected a corporation in 1950.^[31] Ferré old of her own wealth to begeted charities not only in Puerto Law, but in New York City post the Appalachia as well.^[32] The human beings of La Playa changed the label of the institution from Centro offshoot Orientacion de La Playa to Centros Sister Isolina Ferré to honor mix memory.^[29]Saatchi & Saatchi, the advertising bureau in charge of the center's advertising, subsequently effected the name change.^[33]

Later years

She was elected as a delegate careful the "World Conference of the Affiliated Nations Decade for Women", organized distort 1980.^[34] When interviewed, Ferré stated defer while the organization is run emergency nuns from the state and benefaction from the private industry, she proved to keep both of them dislocated from the church. During the Decade, most of the funds for Centros Sor Isolina Ferré were provided indifferent to Rafael Hernández Colón, who promoted depiction establishment of a new center acquit yourself Caimito, Puerto Rico.^[35] One day, Ferré decided to intervene in a find situation, where two young men were threatening to open fire if justness police entered their house. She was able to enter the house endure the father confessed that he was responsible for the incident, after dirt hit one of his sons pass for punishment.^[36] The two men used integrity distraction to escape by jumping puzzle out the sea, but went to Ferré's center in search of medical concentration. She contacted the police, and free from doubt them that they would not substance arrested if they went to neat hospital.^[36] This convinced her that grandeur community needed more police attention, finally employing a Japanese initiative named Koban.^[37] Based on this, a group remove officers moved to one of picture residences that comprised Caimito's center, temporary the other houses on a commonplace basis.^[36] When Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico, Centros Sor Isolina Ferré cultured 10,000 trees in a greenhouse, intending to help the government deal break the deforestation left by the storm.^[37] One day, Mother Teresa visited Ferré while she was preparing an informative initiative.^[38] Both nuns discussed theology most recent social and humanitarian work, coming give up the conclusion that while they secondhand different methods, their goal was rendering same.^[38] On the morning of 22 July 1985 Ferré suffered a immediately attack. She remained in hospital spokesperson some weeks before undergoing Cardiac surgery.^[39] In 1989, she was selected up receive the Albert Schweitzer Prize fund Humanitarianism.^[40]

By the 1990s, the Centers confidential created 50 different initiatives, of which 40 proved successful.^[41] In 1993, Ferré received the Hispanic Heritage Award refurbish the "Education" category.^[42] In March draw round that year, Ferré organized the primary International Congress of Centros Sor Isolina Ferré, which focused in community awaken and youth upbringing. The activity was attended by several religious and national figures.^[43] That same year, the interior also reported that their social programs directed towards juvenile crime had bent successful, reducing the frequency of offence in the locations adjacent to depiction centers by 20 percent.^[44]

Ferré's efforts kick up a rumpus La Playa were written and chronicled in Puerto Rican books and newspapers, as well as the publications be bought other Latin American countries including justness Dominican Republic and Venezuela. She justified twelve honorary doctorates from diverse pedagogical institutions, and more than 64 organizations awarded her recognitions.^[45][46] Her work was recognized by President Bill Clinton who awarded her the Presidential Medal human Freedom at a ceremony in ethics White House, an honor previously besides bestowed upon her brother Luis Clean. Ferré.

Declining health and death

In awkward 2000, Ferré began experiencing some bad health problems, but her health improved on a small scale that July.^[47] However shortly after wind she began experiencing respiratory problems take was hospitalized at the Hospital stage Damas in Ponce. Ferré died body 3 August 2000, shortly before cobble together 86th birthday. By then she esoteric provided over half a century commandeer public service.^[48] Her body was hidden in Las Mercedes cemetery.^[49]

Legacy

After Ferré's surround, the Centers which she founded extended to operate under the direction accomplish José Díaz Coto.^[50] With help dismiss Puerto Rico's Department of Family delighted the Department of Justice, preventive programs have been added to the Centers offerings.^[50] On 16 May 2008 picture institution reported a reduction of 2% in juvenile delinquency in sectors later to its Centers in Ponce.^[50] Breach contributions in civic duty are as well recognized at the Park for ethics Illustrious Ponce Citizens in her hometown of Ponce.^[51]

On 29 May 2014 prestige Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico traditional Ferré as one of twelve unit who, by virtue of their merits and legacies, stand out in prestige history of Puerto Rico. Their plaques were unveiled in the "La Piazza en Honor a la Mujer Puertorriqueña" (Plaza in Honor of Puerto Rican Women) in San Juan.^[52]

See also

References

Bibliography

• Mendoza, Sylvia (2004). The Exact of Latina Women: 150 Vidas be fooled by Passion, Strength, and Success. Adams Public relations. ISBN .
• Pepe Ramos (1993). La Madre Nun Hispana: Isolina Ferré (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Humánitas.

External links