Sister Fran Liston, RDC (Formerly Sister Edmund Marie)
One of four siblings, Sr. Frances (Fran) Liston grew up in Mt. Kisco, NY, and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Katonah. Sister earned a BA in English at SUNY Albany, a Masters degree in TV and Film from NYU and a CAES from Boston College. Sr. Fran entered the Divine Compassion Community in 1963, and began her ministry in teaching at Preston High School in 1966. In 1974, Sister was a member of a team of RDC Sisters who served as parish ministers at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Mansura, Louisiana, followed by St. Peter’s Parish in Minnesota and Sacred Heart and St. Francis Xavier in northern New Hampshire.
In 1990, with guidance from Sisters Alice Feeley and Lucille Coldrick, Sisters Fran and Pam Wagner began to work with migrant farmworkers in the Black Dirt region of NY. They created the Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry, which provided a gathering place of support for migrant farmworkers and their children. The ministry grew. The farmworkers themselves took on leadership roles, and after 26 years, our Sisters retired, however, the work continues.
Sr. Fran is a gifted artist and creative in everything she does. She delights in nature, noticing the tiniest of God’s awesome creation to the largest manifestations, taking note of every creature ‘great and small.’ She loves to walk, sing and dance and bring happiness to others.
