Current Mission Location – Maryknoll Sisters Center- Maryknoll, NY

Rosalie Lacorte was born April 4, 1937 in Lipa in the Philippines to Felisa (Marquez) Lacorte and Rosendo Lacorte. She had only one sister. Rosalie graduated from Our Lady of Rosary Academy, Lipa, in 1955. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Maryknoll College in Quezon City, Philippines in 1959. She later served as coordinator of the Maryknoll Grade School and was Principal at St. John Bosco School in Suriago. She was also involved in catechetical work in that area.

Rosalie entered the Maryknoll Sisters’ Congregation in the Philippines June 1, 1962. She pronounced First Vows March 19, 1965 and Final Vows June 9, 1971 both in the Philippines.

In 1981, Sister Rosalie was assigned to Musoma,Tanzania and worked in Pastoral Ministry and with women. It was while there that she started the Tupendane Center which developed into the Tupendane Cottage Industry. There, many young women, many of whom are orphans, worked full time making cards, sweaters, school uniforms, bead necklaces, vestments, etc. They aspired to being self-reliant. Several of these AIDS orphans were the bread winners for their siblings. They needed peer support so this working together  really helped them.

It was in this Cottage Industry that Sister Rosalie began to involve herself in teaching many different skills, such as sewing, weaving, cooking, a little English and even coffin making! She also taught folks how to apply for loans, set up small business through which they could earn a living for themselves and for their children. Some women were sent on for further study, a number of whom returned as teachers in the very Cottage Industry that trained them! One of the great benefits of the Tupendane Cottage Industry was that of giving the young women who go there a sense of responsibility and the capacity to live their own lives despite the severe circumstnces under which they lived. She collaborated with Sister Mary Reese, MM in the COMMUNITY ALIVE CENTER, working with children and adults affected by the AIDS pandemic.

Sister Rosalie trained and encouraged young women to be self-reliant, to become strong leaders in their communities. She instilled in them a sense of self-esteem, confidence, good moral values and leadership qualities along with a desire to be independent and self-supporting.

After many loving farewells for her years in Tanzania, Sister Rosalie was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center – Rogers Community in 2010 and works in the Development Department.