Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur

Mary-Ellen was born in Montreal, completing her undergraduate pre-medical degree there. She then went to Ottawa to complete Master’s and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. With these degrees, she entered the Sisters of Service in 1976. Always drawn to an appreciation of the whole person, she later completed training in Ottawa as a spiritual director . She continued to practice psychology with an emphasis on healing which included the mental, emotional and spiritual. She spent many years in the north and in Ottawa with indigenous people of Canada. With them, she was drawn to attend to peace and justice issues. This has led her into an extended time in Rwanda, as well as delegations to Israel-Palestine, Republic of Congo,and Japan.
In Ottawa, she began a personal journey in eco-spirituality, This spirituality became the grounding for her approach to peace through nonviolence. Thomas Berry and Teilhard de Chardin have been mentors as she has grown in an appreciation of the Universe Story as a guide for all of life.
She integrates the body into all that she does, offering Reiki, mediating the Healing Energy of the Universe into healing of others, particularly indigenous women. She teaches the healing movements of Shibashi, and has offered Dance/Movement therapy and meditation. Living in Toronto since January, 2017, she is active in the peace and justice work of Pax Christi, and in spiritual growth in her parish. She is a member of the Indigenous Rights Circle of Kairos. A ministry in spiritual direction, and retreats is growing. Mary-Ellen is delighted to have joined the ministry of Villa St. Joseph. She balances her life with yoga, singing, and dancing.