My name is Frances and I have been a Holy Family Sister for 64 years.

I first met the Holy Family Sisters when, at the age of 11, I entered the school run by them in Rock Ferry, England. I had never met any nuns before and knew very little about their lifestyle, but during my years with them I came to realise that this school was very different from the ones I had previously attended. Here the priority was not merely the attaining of high academic standards, but the building up of a true Christian community where each one, Sisters, lay staff, pupils and helpers were respected and loved, and the dignity of each one affirmed. Each one of us was encouraged to take responsibility for the building up of the school community and I remember distinctly that we were encouraged to continue this, wherever we were situated, after our school days were over. It was an education for life.

I am sure that this experience encouraged me to seek admission to the Holy Family Sisters and I entered the Novitiate in Rock Ferry in August 1938. After one year in the Novitiate, the Second World War broke out and the novices were evacuated for a time to Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean. Here again, I came in contact with another welcoming Holy Family community of our Sisters who were nursing. In 1939 I made my First Vows in Cinderford and then went to Leeds University, where I obtained a BSc, which would equip me for my future mission of teaching.

For the next 26 years I taught teenage girls in two Holy Family Schools, in one of which I was Head. The source of real inspiration for me in my work of teaching was the example of my former teachers, who, I now realised, were endeavouring to reproduce in their lives the way of life proposed by our Founder, Pierre Bienvenu Noailles - to build up community among ourselves and the people around us.

In 1969, I was called to serve as a General Councillor in Rome. Although I was sad to leave my mission of teaching, which I loved, I was blessed in many other ways. I was privileged to be able to witness first hand the work of our Sisters in other countries. In spite of many difficulties, they are striving to build up community amongst themselves and amongst peoples deprived of the bare necessities of life and in societies where the stability of family life is threatened and the dignity of the human person is ignored.

I am now living in a community of mostly elderly Sisters retired from the active ministry, but who believe that we can still live our Holy Family way of life to the full - to build up community amongst ourselves and those with whom we come in contact.