The incredible Sisters of St. Louis

Darcy Mullane '24

Editor-In-Chief of Design

The Sisters of Saint Louis have been making beautiful impacts since 1842. As their message spread, so did they. The Sisters of St. Louis are found all over the world, on mission projects from Ethiopia to here in the Valley.

There are about 340 St. Louis sisters on mission projects across the world, with their missions expanding outside of Europe in the 1900s. They began in Nigeria and Ghana, then they came to California in 1942. 

 Louisville students hear the phrase “Ut Sint Unum” every day, but many do not know what it truly means and where it came from. 

“Ut Sint Unum” means “that all may be one” and is at the core of the mission of the Sisters of St. Louis. This phrase is their Charism, which means how they channel God’s goodness. The Sisters of St. Louis want the world to be one in togetherness through reconciling with one another, speaking up for those with no voice and embracing people’s differences. 

On the aspect of community, the Sisters of St. Louis want to empower others. At Louisville, we definitely feel that the community is what attracts many people to Louisville, and if it wasn’t for the sisters, we wouldn’t have had such a vibrant and empowering life on campus.

The Sisters created our wonderful school on a basis of all things pure. They wanted to nurture young women to carry out their ideas. That is why we see and hear heal, unify and transform all around Louisville (an idea of the Sisters.) 

It was so special to have the sisters on campus, and as they go on this new chapter of life, we should remember the beautiful impact they made on us. 

Whenever I saw one of the Sisters, my day was immediately improved. They always smile at you and the conversations with them are consistently special and down to earth–they radiate kindness.

Many teachers here at Louisville were taught by the Sisters when they went to Louisville and still recount their experiences in class showing how their impact is everlasting. We also learn from the sisters when they come to reconciliation to talk with us. We get advice from them and just getting to know their life story is beautiful. 

The Sisters of St. Louis may not be living in the convent next to us anymore, but we will still see their smiling faces. Their impact will last forever because the lessons we learn from Louisville, will stay with us forever.