On August 15th Mercedes and her brother Julio, along with several hundred COAR alumni, came to a day-long celebration of COAR’s 25th anniversary. Mercedes del Carmen Alvarado Castro was one of the first orphans at the “Casa Comunal” – later COAR. At 12 years old she was the oldest of the six brothers and sisters who survived the massacre that killed their parents. As one of the oldest orphans she became a “little mother” feeding, changing, and caring for the younger orphans. All six Alvarado-Castro children were raised at COAR. Three now live near San Salvador and three live in the United States.

Amidst all the pictures and pageantry of the 25th anniversary, featured on the other pages of this newsletter, Mercedes asked, “Where are the pictures of Madre Dorothy?” She remembers Dorothy coming to help Ken occasionally, and bringing new children. She remembers her kindness and her warmth – when they so desperately needed motherly affection.

Mercedes’ question started us on a hunt in the files of the CLAM Team archives and the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland. In those very dangerous and chaotic early days, nobody stopped to take many pictures. Evacuating Dorothy’s belongings after her murder was done rapidly. But a search revealed these pictures – Madre Dorothy with the first COAR orphans. Mercedes’ question has been answered. Pictures of Dorothy are here with us, but she is with the COAR kids wherever they are.