“God working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.”  Ephesians 3

A mother and grandmother, Sister Linda Fusco, SSJ, celebrates 25 years as a Sister of St. Joseph this year.

A late vocation, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Joseph Parish, Sharon, at age 41. At the time, she had a 19-year-old son. Today, she is a grandmother.

“My son was very supportive of my decision,” she says. “Not many people can say, ‘My mother is a nun.’”

Born in New York City, May 30, 1950, she was baptized and received her first sacraments at St. Ann Parish in New York. In 1966, her family moved to Farrell, where she graduated from Farrell Area High School. She attended New Castle Business College and received a diploma for executive secretary studies. She worked for a period of time as a secretary, sales clerk, bookkeeper, and in sales and accounting.

“Since about 1980, I wanted to be part of a religious community,“ she says. The Sisters of St. Joseph provided inspiration through their mission of unity. Having attended several meetings, she learned more about the community’s charism and spirituality and became an associate member. In 1991, she felt called to something more. On March 1, 1992, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph.

In 1998, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Erie’s Gannon University, where she received the Paul Dobruchin award for love of learning. She professed her final vows on Sept. 22, 2001.

Sister Linda taught at Blessed Sacrament School, Erie, for 20 years. She also served on the Diocesan Vocation Committee beginning in 2007. She attended the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for various workshops related to vocation ministry. Sister Linda is an active member of Fariview’s Holy Cross Parish where she serves as a lector.

Other ministry work has included teaching religious education at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Ann parishes, both in Farrell, and at St. Joseph Parish in Sharon. While at St. Joseph, she was a member of the liturgy committee and a lector.

For several years, Sister Linda was a member of the board of directors of Dwelling Place, a house of prayer in Sharon.

For Sister Linda, prayer and reflection are essential components of a healthy life. “I do the Ignatian Examen each evening, which is a wonderful way to reflect on how I have experienced Christ during the day,” she says. “Ongoing spiritual direction allows me to share these things with another who guides me to understand where God continues to call me to growth.”