Sister Susan Dewitt

Sister Susan Dewitt began serving as In-country Coordinator for PazSalud in January, 2009, taking the place of PazSalud founder Sister Eleanor Gilmore.  She lives in an old adobe house in the town of Suchitoto, about an hour to the north of San Salvador, the capital city.

Sister Susan's interest in El Salvador dates back to the 1980's, when she was part of a group in Albuquerque providing sanctuary for refugees from El Salvador's Civil War.  She first visited the country in 2001, spending the summer there to study Spanish, and has since returned with delegations, a CSJP study group, and PazSalud mission teams.

Sister Susan has a varied background that includes studies in English literature, experience in historic preservation, and work as an economic development planner.  She became a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace at 50, and has delighted in work with homeless women at Jubilee Women's Center; in developing the Justice for Women program at the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, and in serving on the Sisters' Leadership Team for the Western Province.

As In-country Coordinator, Sister Susan works out the details of mission trips, connecting with local volunteers, getting needed permits, and continuing relationships with a number of Salvadorans who've been part of PazSalud missions.  She is also hard at work on a life goal of becoming fluent in Spanish.

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