Susan Leigh Baker, daughter of Doug and Judy Baker of Peachtree City, has been selected as the new youth minister for St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church’s Parish Religious Education Program (PREP).

Baker, a McIntosh High School graduate, received her undergraduate degree in political science from the State University of West Georgia in 2000 and is completing a master’s degree in education at Georgia State University. She plans to pursue an additional master’s degree in theology.

She served for two years as an operator/police dispatcher for the City of Fairburn and worked for the Fayette County School system as a paraprofessional teacher and substitute teacher.

During her college years she worked as a youth aide with Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City and St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro. Last year, she served St. Mary Magdalene as confirmation coordinator.

She had been a member of St. Mary’s parish for two years when she began to assist in the youth ministry programs and describes her hobbies of music and sports as essential parts of her life.

“I grew up playing lots of sports,” she said, “including a few years of martial arts.”

Baker says she wants to teach teens the practicality of their faith.

“In the past two years, they have learned the foundation,” Baker says. “I want to take it to the next level so they can see that their faith can be used in everyday life.”

Of her association with St. Mary Magdalene’s Baker says: “The first Mass I attended at the ‘chapelteria’ (East Coweta High School’s cafeteria), I knew I was ‘home.’ This parish is filled with caring people. At the prayer of peace, I saw a little girl walk across the aisle to hug an older couple. That did it,” she said.