Sister Eugenia (Genie) Lorio
Current Mission Location – Eastern US Region, NY
Eugenia (Genie) Lorio was born in New Orleans, LA November 17, 1941 to Cecile (Keller) Lorio and Bernard Joseph Lorio. She had 3 sisters and 2 brothers. In 1958, Genie graduated from Redemptorist High School, Baton Rouge, LA.
Genie Lorio entered the Maryknoll Sisters at their novitiate in Valley Park, MO October 18, 1960 from Baton Rouge after a year at Louisiana State University. She pronounced First Vows June 24, 1963 in Valley Park and Final Vows June 24, 1972 in Guatemala. She completed studies at Mary Rogers College and Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Adult Education.
Genie received her first overseas assignment to Guatemala in 1969. Four days after her arrival in the country, a presidential candidate was machine-gunned to death. That was a jolt; Genie was not prepared for the violence and militarization of the country.
In the diocese of Huehuetenango, she coordinated programs for indigenous wives of leaders after convincing their husbands that women, too, needed to learn to read and write. In turn these women taught other women good practices in health, child care and nutrition. Sister Genie was also a member of a leadership training team for civil, social and economic responsibility.
Sister Genie then spent a year in Mexico City, accompanying basic ecclesial communities before returning to San Marcos, Guatemala, where the bishop named her and another Maryknoll Sister as co-administrators of the parish of San Antonio Sacatepequez.
Fostering broad participation, Sister Genie taught natural medicine to the health promoters who were their students and learned local herbs and cures from them. As their team grew, they traveled throughout the diocese in a Women’s Pastoral Ministry that touched the lives of 2,500 women during nine years.
In 1994, Sister Genie studied myotherapy at the Bonnie Prudden School for Physical Fitness & Myotherapy in Tucson, AZ, before receiving her certification. After working for a year in New York, she became a licensed practitioner. In addition she earned a Certificate of Therapeutic Massage at Blue Cliff School, Baton Rouge, LA. Her skills relieved pain for many Maryknoll Sisters who lived at the Sisters Center and in the area.
From 1995 to 97 Genie was co-coordinator of the Rogers Community at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. The next stage in Sister Genie’s mission life brought her to membership in the eastern United States Region. She continued her Myotherapy at the Center.