Sr. Maria Orlandini enjoys traveling, discovering new things, and gardening, when she is not out fighting for justice.

Meet Sister Maria Orlandini

Sr. Maria Orlandini is the director of advocacy for the Franciscan Action Network (FAN). Her work with FAN focuses on gun violence prevention, human trafficking, and Native American issues. She’s a member of Nuns Against Gun Violence and works with a group advocating for a commission to investigate Native American boarding schools in the United States. Sr. Maria is also active in the congregation’s justice work, chairing the Care for Creation Committee, co-chairing the JPIC Committee, and participating in the Dismantling Racial Discrimination Committee.

Sr. Maria’s work at FAN focuses on gun violence prevention, human trafficking, and Native American issues.

Born in the beautiful little town of Bedizzole, Italy, Maria was the eldest of five children. Sadly, one of her brothers died the day after his birth. The Daughters of Charity of Conossa educated her from kindergarten through 12th grade. As a teenager, Maria felt called to become a missionary sister. When Maria told a sister in her town that she was interested in becoming a missionary sister, the Conossian sister told her that their congregation had a novitiate specifically for women who wanted to be missionaries and invited her to a retreat for young women interested in religious life. At the retreat, she had a profound experience where she heard Jesus say, “I want you to go around the world and spread my love.”

Her parents struggled with her decision to enter religious life. As the oldest child in the family, her father was hoping that Maria would go to work and help support the family. Adding to the complications, Maria’s mother had recently had a baby at the age of 41. Her mother had been worried about having a child late in life, but Maria had assured her that she would help raise her baby sister if anything happened to her. However, Maria did not let her parents dissuade her from her dream of becoming a missionary, and she entered the Conossians. Even though she felt called, this was a difficult decision, and she said, “My biggest experience of detachment in my life was leaving my baby sister.”

Sr. Maria continues missionary work by participating in delegations to Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras. Recently she was involved with a delagation at the U.S. – Mexico border.

After her postulancy and novitiate, which included teacher training, she was sent to England to study English and nursing. However, her studies were interrupted when the Conossians closed their house of study in England. Returning to Italy, Maria taught first and second grades in Lacona. When it came time for her final vows, she felt unprepared and asked for more time to discern. There was talk of sending her home, but one of the sisters in leadership offered Maria the opportunity to go live in Valera with a sister, Sr. Carina, who was working with teenage boys who were in recovery. She spent a year and a half in Valera, working alongside Sr. Carina. This experience taught her about drug addiction and the meaning of being part of a faith community. Maria was inspired by the witness of Sr. Carina, who was extremely generous to all those who came to her door.

After renewing her vows, Maria was sent as a missionary to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1983. Maria had been dreaming of being a missionary in Africa since she was a teenager, but she also thought she might be sent to Brazil or the Philippines. The mother general said, “I know you have problems with your back. I want to send you to a place where they have good doctors who can help with your back. Why don’t I send you to the United States?” Although initially disappointed, she grew to love “The Land of Enchantment.” During her 14 years in Albuquerque, she made her final vows, underwent spinal fusion surgery, became an American citizen, and earned an MA in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago. She worked as a religious education teacher, youth minister, and Director of Religious Education.

Sr. Maria doesn’t just walk the walk, she takes her advocacy work very seriously and has even been arrested for civil disobedience.

In 1997, Sr. Maria was surprised when the minister general called again and said, “I need someone to go to Africa.” Sr. Maria thought, “Now, when I’m doing all these things? How can I go?” But she prayed about it and thought about this chance to pursue her dream of being a missionary in Africa. Once again, Sr. Maria said yes and went to Africa to be vice provincial. She traveled throughout East Africa, visiting sisters in Tanzania, Kenya,

Uganda, and Malawi. She worked closely with the African sisters in initial formation. Although she loved her time in Africa, it presented challenges. She clashed with older Italian missionaries over her desire to help African sisters find their place as African Canossians.

In 2012, Sr. Maria professed her vows as a
Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

After six years in Africa, Maria took a sabbatical in Boston, where she met Sr. Marie Lucey. Following her sabbatical, she studied chaplaincy in Washington, D.C., living with Srs. Marie Lucey, Pat Kane, and a Franciscan sister from another congregation. Her chaplaincy training included work at Children’s Medical Center. Maria found this a great living experience and enjoyed living in a Franciscan community. Sr. Maria enjoyed working with the children and their families, but her training came to an abrupt halt when one of the screws from her scoliosis surgery came loose. The screw was pressing on a nerve that controlled one of her legs. Luckily, she was able to have surgery to remove the screw and fuse her spine again. She worked hard to regain the full use of her leg and returned to chaplaincy training—this time at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, a psychiatric hospital that included inmates.

Sr. Maria then returned to New Mexico as director of pastoral outreach at Our Lady of Belen Parish. During this time, Maria enjoyed her ministry but struggled with life in the Conossians’ community. She was not comfortable with the style of religious life that they were leading, and she craved a different kind of authority. Maria felt called to a different experience of religious life, and she was also attracted to the Franciscan charism. After discussions with her superiors and Franciscan sisters, she requested a transfer to the Sisters of St. Francis.

One of the first assignments for Sr. Maria was at Anna’s Place in Chester, helping to teach computer classes to seniors in the community. Here she works with Harry Dempsey during the beginning computer class.

In 2008, Sr. Maria began a two-year trial with the Sisters of St. Francis, living in Wilmington and working at Anna’s Place in Chester. She became a vowed member of the congregation in 2012. While she enjoyed direct service with people experiencing poverty, she felt called to advocacy work and joined FAN in 2016.

Sr. Maria appreciates both her years with the Conossians and her current life as a Sister of St. Francis. Her diverse experiences, including visits to Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Brazil, and Argentina, inform her work with FAN. She continues her missionary call by participating in delegations to countries like Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras.

Sr. Maria enjoys working alongside Sr. Marie Lucey whose Franciscan hospitality first influenced Maria’s decision to join the Sisters of St. Francis.

Outside of her advocacy work, Maria enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time in nature. Having grown up on a farm, she considers herself a daughter of the land.

Throughout her journey, Sr. Maria has demonstrated a willingness to embrace change and follow her calling, even when it led her in unexpected directions. Despite facing challenges and disappointments, she has remained committed to her faith and her desire to serve others. From her initial calling as a teenager in Italy to her current role as an advocate in Washington, D.C., she has adapted to new situations and cultures while maintaining her core commitment to spreading love and working for justice.

Colleen Collins