Jubilarian 2023 - Sister Gladys M. Leigh

Sister Gladys was born in Sullana-Piura, Peru. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1972 and was received in the novitiate in 1973.

Sister Gladys began her ministry in Peru. In 1974 she was a student at the Institute for Catechisis in Lima. From 1975 to 1978, she served as a religion teacher and youth minister in Chimbote. The next nine years Sister Gladys taught religion, and was community organizer for lunch programs and parochial farm in Arequipa. From 1990 to 1993 she served in parish work and a a community organizer for health promoters and parochial pharmacies in Lima.

In 1994, Gladys went to the states for a Sabbatical in a program with the Little Falls Franciscan Sisters in Minnesota. After that she stayed to study massage and other healing techniques.

Sister Gladys served as a staff member for the Mission Office for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet from 1995 to 1997.

In 1998, she began 12 years of ministry as a massage therapist/doula and labor and delivery technician. She served at St. Joseph Hospital (now St. Clare’s), St. Mary’s Healthcare, CSJ Ministries, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. From 2010 to 2017, Sister Gladys served as a Spanish medical mental health interpreter.

Sister Gladys retired in 2017 and continues to volunteer. She spends her free time knitting and crocheting handmade items.

Click here to make a donation in honor of Sister Gladys.