Popular sister says farewell to Vancouver at the same time as the Archbishop who invited her

One of the first Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to come to Vancouver 10 years ago is leaving, at the same time as the archbishop who invited her to the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Sister John Mary Sullivan was one of the first Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to move to Vancouver in August 2015, alongside Sister Angela Marie Castellani, FSE. The community now has four sisters serving in Vancouver. 

Sister Sullivan’s departure marks a significant moment, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the congregation’s service in the Archdiocese. 

It also comes in the same year that Archbishop J. Michael Miller—who originally invited the order to the archdiocese—steps down from episcopal office. Archbishop Miller has been an outspoken supporter of women’s religious communities in Vancouver and leaves office having invited more than a dozen communities of women religious to the archdiocese.

Sister Sullivan is leaving one week to the day before Archbishop Richard Smith’s installation at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Archbishop Smith celebrated Mass with diocesan staff and offered a warm farewell to Sister Sullivan, who served as the Archdiocese’s associate director of ministries and outreach.

“[Sister,] we are thanking God today for how he has worked in your life in so many different ways,” said Archbishop Smith in his homily.

He said Sister Sullivan’s example should encourage others to ponder how God uses them. 

Despite life’s “ups and downs, the mistakes and successes, and the regrets and gratitudes,” God is preparing us to enter his kingdom, he said.

In addition to her work in the Ministries and Outreach Office, Sister Sullivan was a popular and sought-after speaker on topics ranging from faith and mental health, to vocations and discernment, as well as marriage and family. 

In an interview with The B.C. Catholic, Sister Sullivan said her time in Vancouver has been enriching and she is grateful for the many families she was privileged to meet.

“My final thought is just gratitude,” she said, “for the opportunity to encounter so many beautiful families and couples [and] gratitude for the team that I worked with.”

Sister Sullivan leaves for the Franciscan Life Center, a licensed outpatient mental health facility run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist near their motherhouse in Meriden, Connecticut. There she will be mentored into the role of director and provide clinical support to individuals, couples, and families.

Sister Sullivan said the highlight of her time in the Ministries and Outreach Office was last summer’s Family Camp, a culmination of years of planning and work by her team and the perfect capstone.

“To be able to celebrate family with the joyful happiness manner that we did was a great experience,” she said, “a real celebration of family and its goodness.”

The Family camp marked the end of the Marriage and Family office’s three-year cycle of events, which will restart next month with the Family Fun Day on June 7. 

Meaningful experiences aren’t always happy. Sister Sullivan says some of her most profound and cherished experiences were when families invited her into their homes during times of crisis and pain. 

“The privilege and honor of being invited into those moments of great sorrow, but then to see couples in those moments lean into their faith and lean into their relationship were some of the impacting moments,” she said.

“To be able to celebrate family with the joyful happiness that we did was a great experience,” she said. “It was a real celebration of family and its goodness.”

The Family Camp marked the end of the Marriage and Family office’s three-year cycle of events, which will restart next month with Family Fun Day on June 7. 

Meaningful experiences aren’t always happy. Some of her most profound and cherished experiences were visiting families who invited her into their homes during times of crisis and pain. 

“The privilege and honour of being invited into those moments of great sorrow, but then to see couples in those moments lean into their faith and their relationship, were some of the impacting moments,” she said.

While Sister Sullivan has years of experience as a marriage and family counsellor, her time in Vancouver strengthened her understanding of the role of faith in marriage and family life.

“Seeing how foundational, grounding, fundamental the faith is for families, in a very concrete real way, in both the joys and sorrows of life” will inform her clinical practice, she said. 

She closed the interview with one assurance. “Let everyone know that I will definitely be praying for the people of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. They will hold a special place in my heart.”

She also had a request. “I ask for prayers as well.”

Sharon Goh, who coordinates marriage and family ministries, will take on Sister Sullivan’s role in the Ministries and Outreach Office.

“I am grateful for and confident in her ability to carry on this mission,” said Sister Sullivan.

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