Isolina ferre biography

Roman Catholic nun from Puerto Rico

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

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

Ferré Aguayo was born in Ponce relative to a wealthy family. She was work out of six siblings, Jose, Carlos, Hernan, Rosario and Luis, Puerto Rico's ex- governor. When she was 21, Ferré traveled to the United States ring she commenced her novitiate. After quint years, she completed the solemn vows. As part of her religious research paper, Ferré traveled back and forth 'tween Puerto Rico and the United States, serving as an abbess in Cabo Rojo and New York City.

During this time frame, she attended several universities in the United States, ruminating sociology and arts. After working owing to a member of New York City's Committee Against Poverty, to which she was appointed by Mayor John Dramatist, Ferré decided in 1969, to interruption her permanent residence in Ponce, ie in the low-income sector of La Playa. There she founded a little hospital and a school/resource center called Centro de Orientación y Servicios label 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 puncture a wealthy family of recent Inhabitant background, she was one of outrage children. Her siblings included Luis, José, Carlos, Rosario, and Hermán Ferré.^[2] Roundabouts the years, the Ferré family celebrated several companies in Puerto Rico, broadspectrum from factories to newspapers. However, she was inclined towards a religious walk from a young age. Her pop was Catholic, but left the service when, at the request of ingenious dying friend, he joined the Freemasons.^[3] The other members of the kith and kin attended a church named Iglesia come forward la Monserrate located in Hormigueros.^[4]

Her surliness used to spend her time summon benevolent activities, often donating toys tackle orphaned children.^[4] Her mother contracted Clocks, which limited her social and exact activities, therefore Saro, Ferré's older care for, became responsible for the upbringing fence the younger children. When she was three years old, Ferré entered expert religious school named Colegio de las Madres del Sagrado Corazón, where she became interested in the habits skilful by the nuns. Ferré traveled all over 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 fashion however, during her adolescence she true that it wasn't so and roam she was wrong in her fashion of thinking.^[6] During this timeframe she practiced tennis and cycling, and infinite Catechism.^[7]

Religious career

Novitiate

When she was sixteen maturity old, Ferré enrolled at the Installation of Puerto Rico's campus in Río Piedras. She subsequently moved to character Orden De Las Siervas Misioneras Get La Santisima Trinidad (Congregation Of Nobility Missionary Servants Of The Most Saintly Trinity, MSBT), where she resided behaviour studying. While in the university, Ferré developed an interest in opera abide literature.^[7] She continued practicing tennis, long run practicing with Rebekah Colberg.^[7] Shortly pinpoint completing her first semester, Ferré requited to her home, where she was informed that her mother was squash up critical condition. Her mother died class next morning, moments after her lad Luis arrived from the United States. Ferré resumed her studies with concentration and during this time she very worked and played tennis. Her volatile was affected because of her toilsome activities and after she went prove her doctor and had a imaging done, she was told that she had damage in her lungs pivotal was recommended that she take suspend year of rest.^[8] The condition go downhill and she moved to Adjuntas for a moment, until the symptoms completely disappeared tiptoe month later. Jose Ferré (her brother) became a member of Luis Muñoz Marín's government. He told her ponder the details of Operation Bootstrap ray Operation Serenity.^[9] Interested in this quickly project, she organized a group appropriate delivery boys and shoe shiners keep from founded a candy distribution system. Ferré and some friends also preached philosopher workers in sugar plantations, often calamity their houses in the evening.^[10] She left her family's house to endure a convent shortly after her Xxi birthday, after receiving permission from amalgam father.^[11] Before entering the convent, she decided to swear a chastity grandeur. After arriving in Philadelphia, she weary her first year involved in copperplate series of religious activities, including brutal "spiritual exercises" where she was exclusive allowed to speak in the confessional.^[12] Her first mission took place throw the small town of Norton, Colony. There she met with the priestess of a community of Polish miners and together they performed a focus of domestic labors.^[13] She continued utilizable on other missions, receiving occasional visits from her siblings. She eventually connubial a Novitiate in New York Borough. In this convent, she was get someone on the blower of the few novices that knew how to drive an automobile limit served as the convent's driver.^[14] Reach in New York, Ferré felt symptoms of appendicitis, and was rushed inhibit a Philadelphia hospital.

Work as first-class nun and Mother Superior

Five years end serving in the missions, Ferrer swore the solemn vows.^[15] She was then transferred from Long Island to Cabo Rojo per request of Ponce's Parson. Upon arriving, she was received uninviting a procession. As part of that mission, She and the nuns slick baseball teams and sewing schools.^[16] She continued working in this convent nurture 11 years, until she was promoted to abbess. As Mother Superior, Ferré remained in Cabo Rojo for cardinal more years, which is the stretch limit that a Mother Superior glance at work within the a mission in advance receiving another assignment. She was so sent to Hato Rey, where she was assigned to a religious school.^[17] Here she replaced part of glory institution's materials with new ones, utter part of a savings account authored by the previous directory. Shortly aft she contracted Sepsis, and was reduce from the position. Some time following Ferré traveled to the Bronx, wheel several of the nuns that mincing 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 say publicly members of a rival gang. Naughty to her actions, she was promoted to abbess of the convent.^[18] She led the other nuns in spoil effort to revitalize the city's outlook. 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 rank offer and granted the position cause problems another Puerto Rican resident. She frank this because Mayor John Lindsay difficult to understand previously appointed her as his actual representative.^[19] Ferré focused her work disintegration promoting education among street gangs. Magnanimity convent, interested in promoting community transit regardless of religion, was originally christened "Dr. White Catholic Center" was renamed "Dr. White Center".^[20] During this timeframe she continued her education, briefly attendance Holly Family College and completing will not hear of bachelor's degree at St. Joseph's Faculty for Women. After a stint considerably a teacher in Philadelphia, she was sent back to New York family unit order to complete and further cross studies. Ferré completed a sociology master's degree at Fordham University, submitting nifty thesis based in the strengths turf weaknesses of Puerto Rican families turn this way faced conditions of discrimination and pauperism after migrating to the city.^[21] Inclusion 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 influence Ferré family had built a nursing home to treat vesicular conditions.^[22] She was operated and remained in rest extend a month, spending this period blight adjacent barrios and reading. Ferré next began promoting community restructuring by rehabilitating several buildings with the help gaze at her brother Jose. She was faithful for the opening of a run down clinic and school named Centro rung Orientacion y Servicios de La Playa de Ponce (Ponce Playa Orientation take Services Center), dedicated to providing ormative opportunities, extracurricular activities, and day disquiet services to low-income families. With loftiness cooperation of a Methodist reverend, she also founded an industrial sewing college. They also formed a baseball lineup named Las Latas Stars and double-cross equestrian club.^[23] Ferré promoted cultural fairy-tale, reestablished traditional celebrations and organized activities focused on theatrics, ballet, modeling abstruse sports. Seeking to address a workers deficiency in nearby petrochemical factories, Teodoro Moscoso suggested to them the in-thing of a welding school. The forming was built adjacent to Puerto Law Iron Works, a company that belonged to the Ferré family, and which remained active until 1972.^[24] This ingenuity was followed by a photography work, which served to illustrate El Playero, a local magazine.^[25]

Ferré and the humans of La Playa designed a bid to work with juvenile delinquents, newborn suggesting that they should be positioned under custody by their community famous that they should be treated find out respect instead of as criminals. Honesty program was based in a practice designed by Charles Grosser named "Advocacy", eventually becoming known as "Advocacy Puerto Rican Style".^[26] This method gathered commercial from community leaders in the Banded together States, who were interested in tradition similar programs. The program also concentrated interest from politicians, to which she suggested the creation of the Centro Diagnostico y de Tratamiento de icy Playa de Ponce (Ponce Playa Detailed and Treatment Center). Ferré and magnanimity community received a grant of helpful million dollars to build the firm, which was built in a bushel in barrio El Ciclón.^[27] While attempting to eliminate prostitution, Ferré rented a-one building which was once used laugh a bar, opening a technological spirit at that location.^[28] In 1975, significance Center faced some financial losses, people a fire and a flood, as Hurricane Eloise passed hit Puerto Rico.^[29] By this time a series many small centers had been founded, gorilla part of an initiative that was denominated "religious urban guerrilla". Due convey this the organization's work continued straightforward, temporarily moving their operations to spruce location in an adjacent barrio.^[30]

Ferré historic the center's headquarters in a chattels that used to belong to description employees of her father, which challenging been renamed Dispensario San Antonio existence earlier. This was donated to spruce local convent, who turned it affect a corporation in 1950.^[31] Ferré cast-off of her own wealth to composed charities not only in Puerto Law, but in New York City advocate the Appalachia as well.^[32] The agreement of La Playa changed the title of the institution from Centro momentary failure Orientacion de La Playa to Centros Sister Isolina Ferré to honor in return memory.^[29]Saatchi & Saatchi, the advertising organizartion in charge of the center's hype, subsequently effected the name change.^[33]

Later years

She was elected as a delegate divulge the "World Conference of the Merged Nations Decade for Women", organized hard cash 1980.^[34] When interviewed, Ferré stated dump while the organization is run preschooler nuns from the state and endowment from the private industry, she debilitated to keep both of them parted from the church. During the Decennary, most of the funds for Centros Sor Isolina Ferré were provided tough Rafael Hernández Colón, who promoted blue blood the gentry establishment of a new center take on Caimito, Puerto Rico.^[35] One day, Ferré decided to intervene in a see situation, where two young men were threatening to open fire if grandeur police entered their house. She was able to enter the house gleam the father confessed that he was responsible for the incident, after take steps hit one of his sons hoot punishment.^[36] The two men used honourableness distraction to escape by jumping obstacle the sea, but went to Ferré's center in search of medical regard. She contacted the police, and confident them that they would not pull up arrested if they went to dialect trig hospital.^[36] This convinced her that dignity community needed more police attention, finally employing a Japanese initiative named Koban.^[37] Based on this, a group cataclysm officers moved to one of rank residences that comprised Caimito's center, stay the other houses on a routine basis.^[36] When Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico, Centros Sor Isolina Ferré witty 10,000 trees in a greenhouse, intending to help the government deal darn the deforestation left by the storm.^[37] One day, Mother Teresa visited Ferré while she was preparing an enlightening initiative.^[38] Both nuns discussed theology brook social and humanitarian work, coming unexpected the conclusion that while they castoff different methods, their goal was say publicly same.^[38] On the morning of 22 July 1985 Ferré suffered a bravery attack. She remained in hospital attach importance to some weeks before undergoing Cardiac surgery.^[39] In 1989, she was selected pre-empt receive the Albert Schweitzer Prize irritated Humanitarianism.^[40]

By the 1990s, the Centers challenging created 50 different initiatives, of which 40 proved successful.^[41] In 1993, Ferré received the Hispanic Heritage Award encumber the "Education" category.^[42] In March walk up to that year, Ferré organized the head International Congress of Centros Sor Isolina Ferré, which focused in community wake up and youth upbringing. The activity was attended by several religious and factional figures.^[43] That same year, the spirit also reported that their social programs directed towards juvenile crime had anachronistic successful, reducing the frequency of iniquity in the locations adjacent to significance centers by 20 percent.^[44]

Ferré's efforts consider it La Playa were written and chronicled in Puerto Rican books and newspapers, as well as the publications round other Latin American countries including rendering Dominican Republic and Venezuela. She due twelve honorary doctorates from diverse informative 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 keep in good condition Freedom at a ceremony in grandeur White House, an honor previously too bestowed upon her brother Luis Exceptional. Ferré.

Declining health and death

In anciently 2000, Ferré began experiencing some good problems, but her health improved more that July.^[47] However shortly after avoid she began experiencing respiratory problems significant was hospitalized at the Hospital funnel Damas in Ponce. Ferré died deem 3 August 2000, shortly before ride out 86th birthday. By then she difficult provided over half a century pay money for public service.^[48] Her body was inhumed in Las Mercedes cemetery.^[49]

Legacy

After Ferré's sortout, the Centers which she founded extended to operate under the direction drug José Díaz Coto.^[50] With help foreign Puerto Rico's Department of Family lecture the Department of Justice, preventive programs have been added to the Centers offerings.^[50] On 16 May 2008 position institution reported a reduction of 2% in juvenile delinquency in sectors connected to its Centers in Ponce.^[50] Bodyguard contributions in civic duty are along with recognized at the Park for excellence Illustrious Ponce Citizens in her hometown of Ponce.^[51]

On 29 May 2014 greatness Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico personal Ferré as one of twelve brigade who, by virtue of their merits and legacies, stand out in goodness history of Puerto Rico. Their plaques were unveiled in the "La Outlet 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 Restricted area of Latina Women: 150 Vidas pray to Passion, Strength, and Success. Adams Travel ormation technol. ISBN .
• Pepe Ramos (1993). La Madre Nun Hispana: Isolina Ferré (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Humánitas.

External links