VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
I am not a social worker, but I did a lot of social work in Chile as there are a lot of poor people there. I collected food and clothing in the parish and let people 
come to where they were stored and take what they need. I also visited the hospital, becoming the chaplain without training. I was able to be with people irregardless of their religious background, being able to tell by their responses their denomination. There was once a lady that kept responding “Amen” to everything I said. As she was dying, I asked if she wanted me to call her pastor to come. She said, “No need.” I was able to be the other Jesus for her as she peacefully passed.
One day, about 2 a.m., I had another beautiful experience. A young couple rang the doorbell. As I opened the door I saw them standing there holding a little baby while tears were falling down their faces. They said their baby was dying. I took them into the chapel. As I held the infant, I prayed over him. I told them that their love was greater than mine, and that Jesus knew how much they wanted their baby to live. After they left, I went back to bed.
Ten years later, I was outside the church congratulating parents and their children after first Holy Communion. A couple approached me with their son and said, “Do you remember him?” I really did not recognize the child as he was one of so many. They said, “He is the baby that we took to your house. About a block away, he was completely healed.” I could only say to them, “See what Jesus does when we have faith and love?” Jesus is compassionate and only asks that we ask him. Other people would come to me with their babies asking me to bless them. In blessing pregnant women, sometimes you can feel the baby kick. They are responding so much to Jesus’ love.
I like to see Jesus in everyone. I remember as a little child praying every single day for Hitler that he would stop doing what he was doing. To me, I was so concerned that he was so evil because I loved him. He was my brother in Jesus, so how could he be doing what he did? When I read the paper and I see that someone else has harmed another, I also pray for that person, because you don’t know why a person does what they do. Maybe they were brought up differently. But, we are all one united in the Lord.
I had always been attracted to contemplative prayer. Every morning about 5:30 a.m. I take a walk outside. As I look at Manoa valley, I give gratitude for everything I can see — the ants, the leaves stirring — and I just thank God for all of creation. I also approach people in the same way as in the novitiate. We were taught that, when we meet others, we are to greet the Jesus in them. We quietly in our heart say, “Jesus” so that the Jesus in you connects with them. The whole universe is wrought of the love of God. There is no difference between one and the other. Maybe someday we will wake up and choose seeing God truly as the Creator of everything and everyone.
Maryknoll Sister Cecelia Santos is from Makawao, Maui. She taught in Wailuku, Wailua, Waikiki and Kalihi. She returned to Hawaii in 2015 after being stationed in Chile for 40 years. In 1991, she received the “Distinguished Neighbor” award recommended by the people of Coelemu, Chile. She is 69 years a religious and resides with her community at Maryknoll in Manoa.
