Sister Mary Louise

Mural by @sonsiestudios at the @sistermarylouise cafe in Healesville, pays homage to the life and work of Benedictine nun, Sister Mary Louise St. John of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Herself a sufferer of a progressive genetic disorder, muscular dystrophy, Sister Mary Louise was a life-long advocate for the rights of people with physical disabilities and for the gay community.

She is said to have received the heritage of a fighter from her mother, who fought for her daughter's right to an education at a time when persons with physical disabilities experienced serious discrimination in access to schooling. And throughout her life, she showed great will and ability to overcome the many obstacles she faced. Sister Mary Louise made the Womynspace Coffeehouse a reality in 1989 and spoke at the 1998 Erie Pride Rally.