Mursu a 'Bold Woman'

DOWNEY - Sadie Mursu has been named "Bold Woman of the Year" for 2010 by Christ Lutheran Church in Downey.Mursu was recognized Feb. 28 for her work in the parish and the community. As a community organizer, Mursu founded Alert Block Parents of Paramount, a coalition of parents, school district staff and the Sheriff's Department to identify and help at-risk youth. She headed the program from the early 1960s to 1976. She volunteered 13 years as a secretary at Faith Lutheran Church (now Fe Y Esperanza) and was a longtime board member of Lutheran Maritime Ministries, which offers chaplaincy and practical assistance to seafarers in the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. While not Finnish herself, Mursu became active in the Finlandia Foundation with her husband Armas, a real Fin. Today she continues as president of the Long Beach chapter of the Finlandia Foundation. She also continues on the board of the Christian Dart Ball Association - a faith-based social organization - and chairs the Stewardship Committee at Christ Lutheran. In addition, she is active with Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, singing in the choir and serving as a caretaker to those in need. "Sadie is indeed an example of a woman acting boldly on her faith in Jesus Christ," the church said in a statement. "We give thanks to God for her faithful and bold leadership."

********** Published: March 5, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 46