Sister Francesca Thompson, an Indianapolis native and a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, is celebrating her 60th Jubilee as a Sister of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Ind.
Sister Francesca is known for her ability to preach, her love of theater, and especially, her dedication to her students. The daughter of actors who worked with the Lafayette Players, the longest running stock company in United States history, Sister Francesca attributes her enthusiasm for the theater to be inbred.
In Indianapolis, Sister Francesca attended IPS’ George Merritt School from kindergarten through eighth grade.
While attending St. Mary’s Academy she became a Catholic. She was a member of St. Bridget’s Catholic Parish.
From 1982 to 2005 Sister Francesca joined the Fordham University community as associate professor in Afro-American Studies and the Department of Communications, and assistant dean for minority affairs.
As teacher, director and mentor, she has been an advocate and inspiration of several generations of Fordham men and women to whom she has imparted a love of the theater and the confidence that they will realize their dreams.
After receiving her doctorate from the University of Michigan, Sister Francesca was chair for eight years of the Department of Theater and Speech at her alma mater, Marian College (now University) in Indianapolis and taught at the former Immaculate Conception Academy, now known as Oldenburg Academy.
