Sister Suzanne Susany
Law Student
Duquesne University School of Law
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sister Suzanne Susany is truly grateful for the opportunity to attend law school at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.  In her previous position as pastoral minister at Mother of Sorrows Parish in Ashtabula, Ohio, Suzanne spent much of her time reaching out to many Hispanic newcomers. In doing so, she realized that funds for parish Hispanic ministry were dwindling.  “I believe working in the field of immigration law will enable me to affect change on a larger scale and help people in ways I’m not able to now,” she explains.

Most importantly, Suzanne’s ultimate goal is to help immigrants maintain their human dignity while navigating through an increasingly complex government system that keeps families apart.  “I think this is practical work, and a matter of justice.”

According to the Web site www.justiceforimmigrants.org a growing number of persons in this country are caught in a system where they live in the shadows in an unauthorized capacity as they toil in jobs that would otherwise go unfulfilled. Close family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents often must wait years for a visa in order to be reunited.  “They come to the United States and they truly are Christ suffering again,” says Suzanne.

She admits the issues are complex, yet “as Franciscans, we are called to share, love, support, build bridges and recognize the dignity of the person . . . because they are created in the image of a loving God,” she explains.

As she continues to pursue her education, Suzanne remains involved in advocacy efforts with legislators in support of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

She enjoys attending Sunday Mass at St. Regis Church in Pittsburgh where she celebrates with a diverse group of Hispanic families from Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela and Columbia.

Suzanne looks forward to graduating in 2010 and hopes to serve in her new ministry for at least two decades. “I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. I really feel the Lord has a reason for this. After all, I couldn’t have done this on my own,” she says with a smile. “The door just seemed to open.”