My Background
My name is Sister Sue Rech. I was born October 30, 1943, in Pittsburgh, P.A., to Anna (Zerr) Rech and Fred G. Rech. I had 3 brothers: John, Jim and Br. Fred. In 1961, I graduated from St. Luke’s High School, Carnegie, P.A.
Hearing the Call
Sr. Sue entered the Maryknoll Sisters’ Congregation on October 18, 1962, at the Sisters Center in N.Y. She pronounced First Vows on June 24, 1965, and Final Vows on February 10, 1977, in Tanzania. From 1965-1970, she was a full-time student at Mary Rogers College at Maryknoll, N.Y., earning an Associate of Arts in Community Service. She worked in Congregational Service from 1966-1968 in the Development Department, giving Promotion talks in churches and schools.
Photos from her mission
Overview of Mission Work
In 1971, Sister Sue received her first overseas mission assignment to Mwanza, Tanzania, where she was engaged in youth and women’s rural education. She also served on pastoral teams in Shinyanga and Sayu Sayu and became involved in community development. Later, she moved to Arusha, Tanzania, where she served as part of a pastoral team at the Kinjunji Catholic Mission until 1982.
Sr. Sue returned to the United States to serve again in mission education and promotion for the Congregation for three years, before returning to Tanzania and the Olkokola Mission in Arusha in 1985. In that role, she was part of a diocesan team focusing on women’s development.
In 1994, Sr. Sue returned to the States to give family ministry and earn a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago, I.L. She was then called back to Arusha to teach leadership skills, conduct literacy classes, implement development projects, and carry out pastoral work among Maasai women.
Sr. Sue then began mentoring young women in 2005, as they prepared to become the newest generation of Maryknoll missioners. For five years, she helped direct our Chicago-based formation program for Maryknoll Sister Candidates at the Institute of Religious Formation at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, I.L., where she earned a Certificate in Religious Formation.
Current Mission
Sr. Sue continues to serve in Tanzania, accompanying women and helping them form small businesses to make a living for their families.