SUZANNE MASCHEK

Suzanne joined Medical Mission Sisters in the United States in 1963 at the time of Vatican II. This was a time of many changes in the church when congregations were asked to revive the spirit of their founder. Our foundress, Anna Dengel, was still alive and was encouraging us: “You are as conscious of the needs of the present day as I was of the needs of my day… The future is yours!”

After becoming a physiotherapist, Sue was assigned to Ghana , West Africa , where she worked in different capacities for twenty-five years. Over the years she matured in her understanding of religious life and what it means to be in an international community in a culture very different from her own. She learned from the Ghanaian people the values of hospitality, of living in the present moment, and how important relationships are.

As secretary to the General Assembly, Sue had the privilege of traveling to other countries. This allowed her to meet many MMS and see how they respond with the people in living out our charism of healing.

In 2004 Sue, now Assistant Society Coordinator, moved to London to our international headquarters. In addition to her primary work of administration and visits to our sisters in other countries, she volunteers weekly at a parish soup kitchen. She is giving mission appeals on behalf of the fifteen missionary congregations in Britain and Wales which enables her to get to know the concerns and activities of other parishes. By our baptism we all share in the Church’s missionary vocation and encourage each other to work together on issues of global justice.