This episode features Sr. Leah Couvillion,  a School Sister of Notre Dame, who shares her global missionary experiences. Sr. Leah heard her call to religious life as a fourth grader, and became particularly infatuated with the potential of becominga foreign missionary. Her formation experience was unique: at just fourteen years old, she embarked on a journey of independence—leaving Louisiana for St. Mary of the Pines in Mississippi, a school for young women aspiring to be sisters. At school, she grew close with the other aspirants as they grew spiritually and emotionally alongside one another. She fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a global missionary by ministering in Mexico from 1985 to 1996 and in Pakistan from 1999 to 2001. Her ministry in the United States has revolved around working with Spanish-speaking parishes in Texas and Louisiana. She has specialized in language instruction, since receiving her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and her master’s degree in Spanish Literature. In addition to being a language instructor, Sr. Leah has trained catechists and flourishing religious leaders across the globe.

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.