While Father William Joseph Chaminade provided the visionary spark for the Marianists, the full story comes to life through the incredible partnership he shared with two remarkable women. In this episode, Sr. Laura Leming, FMI, and Jessica González Uhlig discuss the foundational partnership between Father Chaminade, Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, and Marie Thérèse de Lamourous.

Sr. Laura and Jessica explore how these three distinct individuals—a visionary priest, a teenage aristocrat with a "flair for the dramatic," and a fearless woman who went undercover during the Reign of Terror—came together to form the Marianist Family. Whether you are a student looking for a path of authenticity or a leader navigating complex collaborations, the "Head, Heart, and Hands" framework these individuals embody provides a timeless model for service and community.

In this episode, Jessica and Sr. Laura discuss:

• Adèle’s transition from living in a wealthy château to a life of radical poverty at age 18,
• Marie Thérèse’s "boots on the ground" leadership at the Miséricorde,
• The nineteenth-century "mentorship" between Father Chaminade and these two dynamic women,
• Practical tips for finding grace in modern-day group projects and collaborations.

A transcript of this podcast episode is available here.

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Recorded 3 December 2025. Edited by Mike Bennett, Media Administrator for the North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS).

Theme song: “Travel Light” by Jason Shaw (used with permission via Creative Commons License; see more of his work at http://audionautix.com/)

Other ambient music from freesound.org.

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