Road to becoming a nun - Frances Ball

Portrait

Frances Ball was born on the sixth of January 1794, and she was also the youngest of six children of Mr and Mrs John Ball. When she was the age of nine she was baptised in Saint Michan’s Church. She was also the founder of Loreto. Frances went to school at Saint Mary’s Convent of the Institute of Blessed Virgin Mary.(SMCIBVM)When she went to Saint Mary’s, she was one of their most gifted students! She went to school for the next five years. On her return back to Dublin, her father had passed away. In her spare time she did a few bits of charity work and also often went to see the sick and poor and taught them catechism. Later on she moved to Harold’s Cross and rented a house and then koved to Rathfarnham. Within a year, the school had attracted 35 boarders later known as Loreto Abbey. She opened another school in Dublin located in Harcourt Street. Frances Ball founded thirty-eight other convents in October 1860. Under her leadership the Loreto order expanded throughout Ireland and overseas. She founded convents and schools in Ireland, England, India, Canada, Australia and other countries. 

“Go set the world on fire with the love of God”—Frances Teresa Ball.