Sister Suzanne (Sue) Moore

Current Ministry Location – US Eastern Region

Suzanne (Sue) Moore was born January 16, 1934 in Burlington, VT to M. Teresa (McDonald) Moore and Earl George Moore. Sue is an only child. She graduated from Mt. St. Mary’s Academy High School in Burlington in 1951.

Before entering the Maryknoll Sisters in 1955 from Burlington, Suzanne had earned a Bachelor of History degree from Trinity College in Burlington. After earning her Master’s degree in Social Work, Casework-Group work from Fordham University, NY, in 1960 Sister Sue was assigned to California as a Social Worker for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. From 1971 – ‘84 she was Administrator of the Elizabeth Lund Home in her hometown of Burlington, a private, non-sectarian agency to care for unwed mothers and adolescent girls unable to live with family.

Sister Sue served the Congregation on the ‘interim leadership team’ (1969-1971); as vice-president (1985-1991); and as Congregational personnel director. A result of those positions was that she had traveled to many of our Maryknoll missions around the world.

With Congregational administration behind her (President of the Maryknoll Sisters, 2003-2009), Sister Sue Moore moved with another Maryknoll Sister to Asheville, NC, joining three others living in Hendersonville, NC. Sister Sue worked with Catholic Social Service; the agency authorized for immigration assistance, and also helped in their food and clothing program. New for Sister Sue included learning fingerprinting to serve Latinos mostly, but anyone needing a visa or change of status. While in that ministry, Sister Sue attended regularly a city Latino steering committee and a parish Latino advocacy committee.

For six years, while serving as a social worker in McAllen, TX, Sister Sue’s summer home was often a tent in a state park, as she followed and worked     with migrants who moved and worked from Texas to Michigan. She also helped children access schools and social services as a staff member of Communities in Schools, a national organization assisting children who were at risk of dropping out of school.

Sister Sue also met with groups of Hispanic women, members of the Diocesan Faith Formation Team, who gave retreats to women. She also was a participant in a Basic Christian Community with Scripture sharing.

In 2012, Sister Sue and several other Maryknoll Sisters opened a house in Yonkers, New York. She commuted to the Sisters Center to give service in the Sister’s Immigration Department.