The Art of Beauty
Sr. Sukyi Hur brings a quiet grace and contemplative presence to her floral ministry. Her flower arrangements—especially her tender care for orchids—are not simply decorative, but deeply prayerful offerings. Each display becomes an act of devotion, crafted with intention and a heart attuned to the sacred.
She first learned the art of flower arranging in Korea, studying Asian floral traditions. After arriving in the United States, she began developing her own style—something not easily defined by Western categories, but entirely her own. Over the years, her arrangements have become part of the rhythm of life in the community chapel, marking jubilees, funerals, and liturgical feast days with beauty and reverence.
Sr. Sukyi has a deep respect for flowers in their natural state. She prefers not to cut them unless it is in service of a sacred occasion. When she does arrange flowers for liturgy, she does so prayerfully—reflecting on the meaning of the day, the person being honored, or the Sister whose life is being celebrated. She often selects colors and flowers that held special meaning to the Sister being remembered.
Orchids, in particular, have become central to her ministry. Their elegance and resilience speak to her, and because they don’t require cutting, they are a perfect expression of living beauty. Even when their blossoms fade, she patiently tends to them—trusting that with care, they will bloom again. She finds beauty not only in their flowers but in the entire cycle of growth, dormancy, and rebirth.
This floral ministry flows from the same spirit that animates Sr. Sukyi’s broader journey of faith and healing. She first entered religious life in Korea in 1984, made her Perpetual Profession in 1993, and later came to the United States to study Oriental Medicine. She earned both a Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and a Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree, becoming a licensed acupuncturist and eventually offering healing treatments to retired sisters and others in need.
After a time of reflection and discernment, Sr. Sukyi felt God calling her once again to religious life. Drawn by the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, she joined the congregation in 2007 and made her first profession in 2010. Her ministries have included healing work, English study, and spiritual support for the Korean Catholic community at St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in Bellevue—a ministry that continues to bring her deep joy.
In 2022, Sr. Sukyi earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Seattle University, bringing together her gifts for healing, spirituality, and beauty in service to others. Today, she continues to serve as sacristan at St. Mary-on-the-Lake, and her orchids remain quietly blooming—living signs of care, presence, and peace.
Those who know Sr. Sukyi often speak of the calm she carries and the deep attentiveness with which she moves through the world. Her ministry with flowers—especially orchids—is an extension of that stillness. With each leaf she dusts, each bloom she nourishes back to life, she offers something more than beauty: she offers presence. Through these small acts, she invites us into quiet contemplation.
In honor of that spirit, we offer this short prayer—a reflection of the grace she embodies and the gentle strength of the flowers she so lovingly tends:
Prayer with an Orchid
For Sr. Sukyi
God of quiet wonders,
you shaped the orchid in secret—
layer by layer, curve by curve,
a bloom of patience and grace.
Let me learn from its stillness.
Let me bloom in my own time.
Let me offer beauty not for show,
but as a quiet gift
to those who need it most.
Amen.
Sr. Sukyi is excited to continue sharing ideas with the community for simple, prayerful flower arrangements — no orchids required! Whether you're working with garden clippings, grocery store blooms, or something wild and unexpected, her suggestions are meant to inspire beauty rooted in intention.
Take a look at a few of her favorite floral ideas below — and check back each month for new inspiration.