Meet Sister Sue

"My life-journey has been one of relationships with wonderful and amazing people, some of whom were disabled, and all of whom shaped my transformation."

Sister Sue Mosteller

First contact

Sue Mosteller came from Ohio in eighth grade to boarding school with the Sisters of St. Joseph. "The Sisters were open and so friendly. Their spirit and vitality drew me in and made me thrive." Following high school she entered the order.

Seeds

Later, while teaching she heard a lecture by Jean Vanier, Founder of the L'Arche Communities. She reported that she was moved in her heart by this man of God.

Turning point

A short time later, she attended Vanier's retreat at Marylake. There, Vanier asked Sister Marie Paradis, Sue’s friend, to organize North Americans for a pilgrimage to Lourdes for people with disabilities, their families, and young people. When Marie asked for help, Sue declared that she was "not interested in either pilgrimages or handicapped people!" After praying together, she agreed to help Sr. Marie. They chartered two and a half planes and went to Lourdes with 500 people from North America, and joined 12,000 others from 14 countries. Said Sr. Sue. “I was strengthened by this powerful experience."

A new direction

In 1972 Sue began working with L'Arche Daybreak in Toronto and remarked, "It was a gift for me to live there."

In her 40 years there, Sue served as Community Leader and International Coordinator of L’Arche. She worked with Henri Nouwen during his ten years at Daybreak and now serves on the The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Sue published three books: the latest, Light Through the Crack: Life after Loss (2006).

Of her life to date she says, "My life-journey has been one with wonderful and amazing people, some of whom were disabled, and all of whom shaped my transformation. They demonstrated that love is possible, God's forgiveness is essential, and we are called to walk together on earth."

To read more Sisters' Stories, please see Meet A Sister