She is a true educator, teacher, and inspiration.

Sister began teaching philosophy and theology at the College of St. Francis, now the University of St. Francis, in 1969. "My involvement in social justice issues began in the 60s with a growing awareness of racial injustice," she explained. "During the 70s I found myself discussing issues with my students."

However, Sister was not solely content with the scholarly-driven philosophical discussions that occurred inside her classroom. She reflectively noted that, "for the most part, we cannot reach people intellectually, we have to reach them experientially." To this end, she required her students to do volunteer work in addition to their course work.

"I worked with Sister Dolores Zemont who was director of Campus Ministry at that time and set up opportunities for students to work at Groundwork, a shelter for battered women and their children. I also helped establish a branch of the Big Brother/Big Sister tutoring program on the CSF campus. I actually volunteered myself in these programs. Both . . . are still going on with student volunteers."

Sister Surwilo particularly enjoyed teaching her "Contemporary Issues in Ethics" class because it gave her the "perfect opportunity" to educate her students on various social justice issues. It also allowed her to encourage them to get involved where they could and to write letters to the appropriate people in government.

"I believe I was able to educate people in areas that they were really unaware such as the School of the Americas and the Iraqi Embargo," she said. "The damage done in Third World Nations by loans from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank were also part of the consciousness raising I tried to do."

Sister herself is an active member of Pax Christi, and she recently helped launch its "Bread, Not Stones" campaign. The campaign focused on America’s inflated military/Pentagon spending and showed that if just a small percentage of the military budget were reallocated to needs in education, housing, and health care, "a great difference could be made."

Sister Surwilo added that "there are many organizations to which I feel attached in spirit, but having the vow of poverty, I can’t join them all (Pro-Life Movement, Network, Amnesty International, Bread for the World, and several environmental groups)." Since retiring from USF in May as Professor Emeritus, she has given up her memberships in the American Catholic Philosophical Association and the American Philosophical Association.

Her most recent concerns center on Health Care issues and, in particular, end of life issues. "With the advent of euthanasia," she observed, "I believe that we must find a way to educate people about the value of life and when and how we can allow ourselves, our loved ones to make the final journey to eternity and God’s loving embrace."

Sister’s passion for end of life issues ultimately lead to the creation of her popular course, the "Theology of Death and Dying." Most recently, it has encouraged her to concentrate on her hospice work. In September, she will begin a residency program at Good Samaritan Hospital. It will last a year and consist of four units of Clinical Pastoral Experience (CPE). "I hope to eventually minister as a chaplain in some aspect of health care," she stated.

When asked where her motivation and energy come from, Sister replied that her work has its source in her prayer life and relationship to God. "I am absolutely convinced that any action for social justice that is not accompanied by prayer is not capable of sustaining itself. Prayer alone, action alone are only half the Christian’s call."

Sister added that Jesus has influenced her Christian walk the most. "He’s my main model," she said. "Reading the Gospels, I see Jesus raising up the poor and oppressed and treating them with dignity." She also noted that St. Francis, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the many martyrs from Latin America have inspired her.

"But then," she was quick to add, "there are our own ‘missionaries’ who have traveled to Bolivia. I’ve gone twice with the college groups. The medical team, construction team, all those people both inspire me and give me hope that our Church really does care about social justice."

Sister’s heart for social justice has lead to various powerful experiences and a life-long mission to educate others about peace and justice issues. Yet, she cautions those whom she teaches not to develop a "Messiah complex" and adopt the "I can save the world myself" attitude.

"Most of us," she affirmed, "need to do small and unnoticed things and be satisfied that we have done our best even when we are not noticed for what we have done. I resisted this interview because of my belief that being acknowledged and noticed is not essential to the task of social justice."

But Sister finally "acquiesced" because she wanted to share her message that the "efforts of everyone, no matter how noticed or hidden, are important for God’s kingdom."

"We can’t get discouraged by the fact that we can’t do things that papers will print," she advised. "In the long run, those who persevere in the little everyday tasks, building the Kingdom brick by brick, are just as important in God’s eyes as the architects who orchestrate the large projects."