by Elinor J. Brecher

In October 1963, Sister Lucia Ceccotti and 10 Sisters of St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, the order she entered at 18, came from Italy to found the Marian Center School for people with intellectual disabilities. The nuns came at the behest of Miami's first bishop, Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll, who knew about the order's special-needs school and wanted to establish one like it, initially in Hollywood.

Ceccotti arrived with impressive credentials in nursing, teaching and Italian literature, and a Master of Science in administration and special education. She'd been a high school principal and held various leadership positions in her order, and of the group was the only one who spoke English.

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Source: http://www.miamiherald.com