Dorothy Santos (right) followed a religious calling close to home. Tomboy Cecelia Santos, lit with missionary fire, wanted to go to China
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Sacred Hearts Sister Dorothy Santos and Maryknoll Sister Cecelia Santos are blood sisters who grew up on a ranch in up-country Makawao, Maui. Sister Dorothy has been a religious 77 years working mostly as a classroom teacher in Hawaii and California. She now lives at Malia O Ka Malu Community in Kaimuki where she works on religious mosaics.
Sister Cecelia, 69, who spent four decades as a missionary in South America, now resides with her Maryknoll community on Oahu Avenue in Manoa. She volunteers at St. Pius X Church food pantry.
In this interview, which took place in May, Sister Santos begins by describing her younger sister.
SISTER DOROTHY: She is like a butterfly. She runs, doesn’t know how to walk. Sister Cecelia is full of life. She was the 11th child in our family and I was the seventh. As the baby of the family, she was spoiled by my brothers and parents. And even though I tried to convince her to become a Sacred Hearts Sister, she was determined to be a Maryknoller.
“You could come join us,” I said. “No way,” she said. “Do you think I am going to get up during the night?” she said, referring to the perpetual adoration observed by the sisters at the time. I did take her once with me to the nocturnal adoration however.
SISTER CECELIA: I almost passed out! My system couldn’t take waking up at 3 a.m. to pray as I was only in my teens. Later on, when I entered Maryknoll though, the sisters also observed perpetual adoration. I was then able to take my turn at night, and I really loved praying during those silent hours. We no longer observe it as we don’t have enough Sisters to go around the clock.
What was life like growing up?
SISTER CECELIA: Before I was born, my mother’s sister-in-law died leaving several children. The youngest, Rosalyn, was 7 years old and taken into our home becoming part of our family. When I was born, she took care of me like a mother. When I was 11, my mother’s niece died and left an 11-month-old baby boy who we also took in, so our family grew to 13 children.
We lived on a cattle ranch, Grove Ranch, in Makawao. I was a professional horseback rider, bicycle rider, runner and everything you could think of. I was always climbing trees and making my mother worry. I was a real tomboy. As the youngest, I feel I missed a whole lot as my elder siblings kept leaving home as they grew up.
SISTER DOROTHY: She IS a tomboy. Sister doesn’t know how to walk. If we have stairs, she runs. And everyone envies her.
SISTER CECELIA: I’m 87 and should be slowing down, but I am getting faster. (She grins.)
What influenced your vocation?
SISTER DOROTHY: I actually did have a relative who was a Sacred Hearts Sister — Sister Matilde Gouveia. She was the sister of Rosalyn. I never saw her as she was in Honolulu and I in Maui. But I heard a lot about her from my parents and Sacred Hearts Father Louis Boeynaems and Brother Lawrence who often spoke on vocations at church. Sister Matilde often communicated with my mom. I remember my mom’s beautiful Easter lily garden. Every Easter she would give all of her lilies to the sisters at Sacred Hearts Academy for their chapel. I remember how beautiful the chapel looked. After I finished high school at St. Anthony School in Wailuku, I decided to enter the convent.
SISTER CECELIA: I remember that it was in the first grade at St. Anthony’s that I felt the desire to become a missionary sister. I watched the Maryknoll Sisters who taught us and I had a great desire to go out to China, to go out to Africa, to go out somewhere to tell the whole world that Jesus is risen and loves everyone. I was full of fervor at that age. But I didn’t want anyone to know I wanted to become a nun. Somehow though they knew and would tease me. I would get very angry and say, “I’m not going to become a nun.”
Anyway, I grew up with that desire. When my sister entered the convent, I was pulled in two directions. I wanted to be near her and my family, but I also was really sure that I wanted to be a missionary. As a sophomore in high school I had the privilege of being interviewed by the foundress of the Maryknoll Sisters, Mother Mary Joseph, when she made her visit to Maui. I asked her if I could enter Maryknoll and she said, “That would be just lovely, dear.”
How did you feel when your sister entered the convent?
SISTER DOROTHY: I was happy for her. That she was entering an order. Like I said, I really tried to pull her into the Sacred Hearts, but it wasn’t for her.
SISTER CECELIA: I was only 7 when she left for Sacred Hearts Academy in Nuuanu to finish high school and enter the convent. It was very difficult to say goodbye. I missed her very much. However, I remember her being very helpful and spoiling me, carrying my books to school and taking very good care of me. She was a very loving, protective sister.
How did your parents feel about your vocations?
SISTER DOROTHY: They were so proud of us. They were so delighted.
SISTER CECELIA: My mother and father were very happy about my being a religious even though they really wanted me to be with my sister, and closer to them. When I left for Maryknoll in New York, that was the first time I had slept out of my house in 18 years.
Any closing thoughts?
SISTER CECELIA: I would like to thank my parents and family for the example and inspiration that they gave me so that I was able to come to the desire to be a missionary, and the Maryknoll Sisters who first taught me and continue to be my inspiration. I also would like to thank those in Chile who taught me so much during my 40 years working among them. We missionaries used to think that we are being sent to serve, but I have found that the people do more for me than I do for them. I appreciate that very much.
SISTER DOROTHY: No way can I compare my religious life with my sister’s, as I spent most of my time in the classroom. But I really am grateful for having been able to prepare grade after grade of children in schools in Hawaii and in Gardena, California, and in catechism classes for their first holy communion.
I am also grateful for Karen Lucas, a dear friend who helped me begin the journey of mosaic making with the Sacred Heart Sisters of which the finished products have gone to many places around the world spreading inspiration while continuing the stories of Jesus’ love.
SISTER CECELIA: Regarding having a Sister sister, it is a great privilege and a wonderful opportunity to be able to share our religious life. Even though we have different rules and superiors, Jesus remains. And to share this love of Jesus with my sister is very good. I’m inspired by her.
SISTER DOROTHY: I’m inspired by her.
