Louise “Josephine Louise” Kearns

“May the most holy will of the good God be always done in all of us.” – St. Julie Billiart

Born in Dorchester, the daughter of George and Florence (Morand) Kearns, Sister Louise Kearns, SNDdeN grew up in a family with 11 children.

She attended Notre Dame schools; by second grade she felt called and remained attracted to becoming a religious through all of her school years. “I knew that the Sisters helped people to be happy, and that’s what I wanted to do.” She entered the SNDdeNs in 1959.

Her first mission was teaching junior high boys. “When I got in front of those many, many, many children, I knew I had to take charge or else they’d take charge of me! My father was a teacher, and he gave me tips: Don’t smile and don’t promise anything.”

She taught at St. Mary in Lynn, St. Charles in Woburn and St. Augustine in South Boston, and worked with the D Street ministry’s South Boston Adult Learning program.

“In all my missions, I was drawn to work with the mothers of my children. I had become a resident of the Forrest Public Housing in South Boston along with two other Sisters and realized the mothers living there were left without much support, skills or education and were often overwhelmed and depressed. I wanted to help these women, so I started support groups.

In 1975, she earned her master’s in education and counseling, where she created a program that supported and educated women and fostered their self-esteem. This work helped her work for more than 40 years as a co-founder of St. Julie’s Family Learning Program. She also co-directed the Fun in the Sun program. “It was outrageously wonderful! We had 300 children, ages 3-12, and did whatever we could to keep them happy, creative and playful while giving their parents a break.”

As she celebrated her 60th Jubilee as a Sister in 2019, she says, “I am grateful for all the people who have been a part of my life, who have been drawn to me by the grace of God. It’s all a part of God’s plan. I am very grateful to have been a spokesperson for God.”

“’May the most holy will of the good God be always done in all of us.’ This quote is special to me because it allows me to let go of the ‘should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.’ God is in control.”

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Updated in 2026.