Donor Spotlight: Mary Fratto

When Mary Fratto first heard Sister Irene share her vision for Sisters Rising Worldwide, something clicked immediately. Mary first met Sister Irene through a friend in a book club. “She can get you so excited,” Mary recalls. “You feel like all the world’s problems can be solved. When she explained that Sisters already know what people living in poverty need—simple, practical needs—it just made so much sense.”

Mary soon joined early Zoom conversations as the idea for Sisters Rising Worldwide was beginning to take shape. Inspired by the clarity of the vision and the deep trust placed in Sisters around the world, she became part of a small group of SRW’s first monthly donors.

“There were just a handful of us in the beginning,” Mary says. “But I was completely on board.”

“Mary believed in this mission before it was visible,” Sister Irene shared. “Her early monthly support helped give us stability and confidence at a critical moment. She represents the steady generosity that sustains this work.”

What resonates most with Mary is the way Sisters identify practical, immediate solutions in their communities. “I love the stories about small things that make a big difference,” she shares. “In India, Sisters needed buckets so people could wash their hands. They needed sewing machines to make masks.” Mary sees the significant impact a monthly gift can have on even one family in need. A bucket means clean hands. A sewing machine means empowerment.

That perspective was shaped early in her life. She remembers her father once reflecting on a priest’s request that if everyone could give just a little more, together it would accomplish what was needed.

“That idea stayed with me,” Mary says. “Small gifts really do add up.”

Doing Her Part

Growing up in a large Catholic family, attending Catholic schools, and later becoming an Ignatian Associate shaped by Jesuit spirituality, service is ingrained in Mary’s being. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, organizing food collections, and she supports organizations like the YMCA. She also volunteered with Global Volunteers in Tanzania, helping build handwashing stations and chicken coops, and delivering food in remote villages. She describes herself as a “worker bee” who shows up, contributes quietly, and keeps things moving.

Mary also gives back through her profession. After a career in insurance, she became a massage therapist nearly 20 years ago, a role she still practices part-time. “I really enjoy making people feel good,” she says.

Mary loves to travel and learn from the world around her. In 2025 alone, Mary visited three continents, including a pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal, a family trip along the Amazon River, and a tour in the Caribbean.

Finding Hope in Uncertain Times

In today’s world, Mary says Sisters Rising Worldwide offers something deeply grounding. “At a time when there are so many reasons to feel sad, angry, or overwhelmed, it’s comforting to know there are Sisters on the ground who understand how to best help people in need and to meet people where they are,” she reflects. “It makes you feel like you’re doing your part.”

For Mary, becoming a monthly donor to SRW was an easy decision, and one she encourages others to consider. “Monthly giving is needed, and it’s well used,” she says. “It makes it easy to give more than you think. Read the newsletters. Hear the stories. It just feels good. Don’t overthink it. Do it because you want the Sisters to thrive.”

Join Mary in helping Sisters thrive by becoming a Sister Champion (monthly donor). You can help us reach our goal of doubling the number of SRW monthly donors in 2026 by donating online here.

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