By Paula Day

Mrs. Susana Jimenez brings youthful energy and vitality and an ongoing involvement in the Hispanic community to her position as director of the Office of Hispanic Apostolate.

The 26-year-old woman was born in Spain where her parents had fled after being exiled by Castro in 1961. A naturalized citizen of the U.S., she has lived in Atlanta for six years and is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish.

Mrs. Jimenez was director of community relations for Crawford Long Hospital and "wasn't looking to leave" when Sister Pilar Dalmau offered her the opportunity to work directly for the Hispanic community.

"I was happy at my job, but I wanted to work with Hispanics and I thought it would be wonderful to work with the Church and for social justice. It was the Cuban prison crisis that brought on my passion for social justice. During last December's uprising of Cuban detainees at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary Mrs. Jimenez went each night to the prison area, attended Mass, and gave her support to the families of the hostages and detainees.

A graduate of Georgia State University, Susana Corripio Jimenez has a bachelor's degree in journalism and communication. She worked for ABC News' Atlanta bureau after graduation and was approached by the network to relocate in Los Angeles with the possibility of becoming its Hispanic correspondent there.

"I had not met my future husband then," she said, and she admits she found the prospect "real exciting" but she "rethought" her priorities when she met Arturo Jimenez. The couple have been married three years and expect their first child in November.

Mrs. Jimenez has been involved with the Hispanic youth and young married groups at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish. She also is a member of the parish council and a Eucharistic minister.

As director of the Office of Hispanic Apostolate she will help the Archdiocesan Council for Hispanics introduce and implement the National Conference of Catholic Bishop's National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry. Implementation will include social justice programs, evangelizing unchurched Hispanics and developing Hispanic leadership. One goal of the Plan is to "bring to light the important role of women, the family and youth," Mrs. Jimenez said.

Much of her work will be administrative. The Office of Hispanic Apostolate has added a computer to facilitate budgetary tasks which include paying salaries for priests and some sisters who serve the Hispanic community. Mrs. Jimenez will handle correspondence for the Hispanic Pastoral Council and will serve as a liaison between the Southeast Pastoral Institute and the Hispanic population in the archdiocese. The Miami-based Institute was formed under the auspices of the NCCB in 1977 as a response to the pastoral needs of Hispanics.

Susana Jimenez expressed a hope to "get out into the Hispanic communities to assess their needs and to be a presence to them from the Hispanic office ... to let them know that we serve as a voice to Archbishop Marino regarding their problems and needs."

"I believe I'm here to do the Lord's will," she said. "I don't know what He has in store, but in my heart I know He will guide me to do His work in the Hispanic apostolate."