Sister Maureen Fagan, OSF

I was born on December 25, 1945, in Madison, Wisconsin, and I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I enjoyed swimming in Lake Michigan, ice skating, and sports. My goal was to be a nurse, and while the idea of religious life crossed my mind, I knew that most Sisters were teachers, nurses, or social workers.

I entered the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on September 8, 1964, and professed First Vows on August 22, 1967. I earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marillac College, St. Louis, Missouri, and received certification as a Neonatal Nurse Clinician from Georgetown University (Washington, DC). I also completed studies from the Institute for Religious Formation (Catholic Theological Union) and the Institute for Spiritual Leadership (Chicago, Illinois). Throughout my religious life, I have served as a nurse at some of our hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin, along with another Franciscan hospital in Illinois and a health center in Missouri. In addition, I served as the Pre-Novitiate Minister.

For the past 18 years, my ministry has been in Chicago serving at a homeless shelter, was a spiritual director, and taught the 12-Step Program (an international program supporting recovery from substance addictions, behavioral addictions, and compulsions). I gave retreats to university students and homeless women where I used my knowledge of nursing, religious formation, the 12 Steps, and community outreach. It was a rewarding experience to live and work with others from various cultures.

Throughout my life, I have learned the importance of not cutting off communication with God during tough times, always doing what you love, and finding ways to nurture your spirituality.