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Introducing Sister Gracelyn Soignet

Sister Gracelyn Soignet regards her sturdy, worn-in shoes as trustworthy friends. They, and their predecessors, have carried Sister Gracelyn many miles since she took her vows in 1956 at the tender age of 18.

She first served as an elementary school teacher, teaching mathematics until 1970, then woodworking at St. Agnes Vocational school in Baton Rouge until 1978. After receiving her LPN in 1980, she took on duties at Nazareth Inn, an apartment complex for the elderly owned by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. While she ministered there, she also cared for her ailing mother who was a resident of the retirement community. Sister Gracelyn eventually moved up to the administrative team where she currently ministers. She is responsible for the care of our senior sisters at Mirabeau and for our sisters in need of skilled nursing care at Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center.

Her calling is to take care of the elderly. She felt it at as a teen, when she volunteered for the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Good Shepherd Sisters. She feels it today.

When Hurricane Ivan threatened New Orleans, she pitched in furiously at Our Lady of Wisdom. In her words, “…that meant loading two huge rental trucks with mattresses, linen, medicine carts, water, and food for two to three days. And it meant preparing each of the 100 or so residents…”

From there, it was an 18-hour ordeal through highways clogged with fleeing New Orleanians. Finally, dry and safe in Alexandria, they gathered for a prayer of thanks and Eucharist in the gymnasium at Holy Savior / Bishop Menard High School.

What does a shoe do? It keeps you dry and warm. It protects. You don’t think about footwear unless you don’t have any. Likewise, we don’t think much about our nurses and caregivers until we need them. When we do, we really need them.

Finally, you would be interested to know that despite her hectic schedule Sister Gracelyn gets a few moments now and then to pursue a few hobbies. She loves horses, woodworking and walking.