Born in Brooklyn, NY, Sister Lorraine Ryan grew up in Illinois. She learned about the Medical Mission Sisters in her first year of college, and entered at the age of 19. She went on to earn a B.S. in Medical Record Science from St. Louis University, a B.S. in Nursing from Catholic University, and a Masters degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

Sr. Lorraine describes herself as a healing woman. She worked in India for over 15 years, serving as a nurse, counselor, tutor, diocesan coordinator of health services, and assistant district superior for the Medical Mission Sisters. Upon her return to the U.S., she worked as a vocation coordinator and chemical dependency counselor.

Both of Sr. Lorraine's parents developed serious illnesses in their later years, and she settled in Boynton Beach, Florida, to care for them. There, in 1999, she co-founded Women's Circle with Sister Joan Carusillo, a Holy Cross Sister.

The program offers computer training; literacy training; English as a second language; and basic job search, interview, and dressing-for-interview skills to low-income, minority women. Most of the clients are African-American, Haitian-American, and Hispanic.

"The diversity in ethnicity of the poor women who come to us is astounding!" says Sr. Lorraine. "It is a rich mosaic of culture, language, and styles. When these women work together to bring about change for themselves, their families, and their community, it is truly awesome."