Sister Lourdes Fernandez Reyes

Sister Lourdes is a member of the religious association, the Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour. She is currently a volunteer in the Diocese of San Diego. Her ministry includes: Las Colinas Women’s prison; Fr. Joe’s Village; and spiritual care at Scripps Mercy Hospital Hillcrest. 

Prior to retiring and joining the ESEH in 2019, Sister Lourdes was known in San Diego as Dr. Maria Lourdes Reyes. She was a Pathologist with specialty training (St. Louis University, Georgetown, and Harvard) and Public Health Administrator (Masters from SDSU in Public Health Services Administration, SDSU Business school certificate   on Community Economic Development, and UCLA Anderson School of Management Health Care Executive Fellow). Dr. Reyes owned a laboratory and provided services to many of the community clinics in San Diego for 10 years prior to working in public health. Dr. Reyes was the Country Director of United States & Border Programs for Project Concern International (2007-2019). 

Dr. Reyes held many local, statewide and national leadership positions including: President of the American Cancer Society California Division (2000); Chair of the Women Physician's committee of the SD County Medical Society; Board of Directors member of United Way; and President of the Pilipino Medical Association of San Diego. She was also Faculty at University of California San Diego, SD State University, and SD Community College.

Awards to name a few were: the “One in a Million” from the American Cancer Society; San Diego County Public Health Champion; Community Health Improvement Partners Outstanding Community Partner; and Community Service Award - Somali Family Services.

Her life has always been dedicated to serving others, especially the underserved, refugees, and migrants, all for equality and justice. Her personal mission statement is: “I am dedicated to the realization of human potential through servant leadership.”