Where Hope Takes Root in South Sudan with Orla Treacy, CJ
Episode Summary: Sister Orla Treacy’s story is one of courage, adaptability, and deep commitment as she marks nearly two decades of mission work in South Sudan. Never imagining herself as a missionary, Orla reflects on her unexpected journey from Ireland to a country shaped by both hardship and hope.
With a passion for educating young women, she shares the cultural realities and daily challenges she faces, while also celebrating the resilience, pride, and potential of the community she serves. Her story is a powerful reminder of how education and strong communities can transform lives—and how one person’s “yes” can ripple into lasting change.
About Sr. Orla Treacy, CJ (click to expand)
After living and working in various parts of Ireland, Orla Treacy, CJ joined the congregation in 1997. As Orla prepared for final vows, the Irish province was also embarking on a new mission, part of the Courage to Move reality, to South Sudan. Orla volunteered to join the new team and arrived in Rumbek in 2006.
Today, Orla is the Director of a girls’ boarding secondary school, a primary school for boys and girls, a child-centered health clinic, and an educational centre for young adults. At the invitation of five graduates, the sisters agreed to begin a new mission in the north of South Sudan. Orla and her team are currently building this new mission in Aweil, a town on the border with Sudan. The first students to Secondary School Aweil will come to Rumbek next month to begin their education.
Orla and her team have received numerous awards for their work with young women in South Sudan. For more information, or how to donate to the mission in South Sudan check out the website www.loretosouthsudan.org.
Love & Speak the Truth podcast is made possible by the Congregation of Jesus, US Region
Executive Producers: Megan Beutel and Jennifer Schmitz
Sound Track: Laurenti Wright on keyboard
Music Composition of Women Bearing Witness: Maria Bierer, IBVM
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