This episode features Sr. Giuliana Maria of the Most Blessed Sacrament, our youngest podcast guest and a novice with the Sister Servants of Jesus Crucified. As a self-proclaimed “wild child” and a romantic, Sr. Giuliana “reached for the sky” while growing up in the mountainous region of Colombia. As a teenager, she pursued a relationship she thought would lead to marriage and her ultimate happiness. The relationship did not last, but as a result, Sr. Giuliana began to explore her passion for the Church and helping others with a group of friends. She started attending weekly mass, and ministering to the neighborhood children. The friend group’s efforts were soon noticed by the Missionaries of Charity. Her ministry work would create opportunities for her to attend World Youth Day 2019 in Panama and a charismatic renewal retreat in Mexico. Both experiences were a part of Sr. Giuliana’s discernment. Her perspective on the sisterhood is unique as a young woman from Columbia called by God to St. Martinville LA, to the Community of Jesus Christ Crucified, an active-contemplative community rooted in redemptive suffering and meeting the needs of the poor and most vulnerable through their various missions and apostolates.

The Flourishing Sisterhood Project is supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Catholic Sisters Initiative. The podcast is produced by the Loyola Institute for Ministry and retained by the university’s Digital Humanities Archive.

Music and sound effects provided by distressbear and t2audio through Pond5.