By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald
For Maryknoll Sister Aurora de la Cruz, welcoming the stranger is more than a vocation; it is a way of life.
Through her work as an immigration specialist at Catholic Charities Hawaii, the 60-year professed sister assists her clients with integrating into the United States, helping them feel they belong in their new home.
“I think it’s a calling for all Catholics, all people who are concerned about their brothers and sisters, because we are all one family,” she said. “We’re all going (through life) together.”
Ethan Higa, CCH’s immigration program director and Sister de la Cruz’s supervisor, thinks her work is exactly what is needed today in an environment marked by impatience and intolerance to the most vulnerable.
“Sister Aurora de la Cruz embodies the mission of Catholic Charities Hawaii to welcome the stranger in her daily life,” he said. “Her unwavering gentleness, deep patience and steady, joyful compassion with every client turn intimidating paperwork into moments of welcome, dignity and hope.”
Assisting those in need
Sister de la Cruz has been a partially accredited representative for immigrants since 2014. In her position, she assists people with their documents and represents them in petitions and interviews.
Since 2020, she has conducted more than 440 client consultations and assisted more than 70 people with becoming citizens.
“I help my clients to become integrated into the community first by listening to their stories before I work with them in applying for the immigration benefits that they are seeking,” Sister de la Cruz said.
For immigrants who dream of citizenship, the in-person interview and test are an arduous process. Citizenship candidates are asked up to 20 questions from a bank of 128 potential questions by an immigration officer, which are slightly modified for test takers over 65 years old or who have been in the country for more than 25 years.
Questions span a number of important topics, including American democracy, government structure, history, geography, symbols and holidays. A passing score is 12, and candidates may only take the test twice.
“That’s a lot of hoops (to jump through). I think people born here don’t know all that information,” Sister de la Cruz said. “My clients have passed. I pray.”
The former teacher said that when she helps her clients prepare for the interview, she has them review a 14-page document every day until they feel confident in knowing the information.
“Because if you’re uncomfortable, you forget,” she said. “It has to be second nature.”
Lifelong educator
Born in Santiago City, Isabela, Philippines, the future Maryknoll sister came from a family of 18 children — 10 boys, including an adopted son, and eight girls. Her father was a farmer, and her mother was a housekeeper.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of La Salette in Santiago, she taught math and science at La Salette High School in Santiago and to high school students at Maryknoll College (now Miriam College) in Quezon City.
In 1974, she joined the Maryknoll Sisters and earned her master’s degree in religious studies from the Maryknoll Seminary in Ossining, New York.
In 1976, Sister de la Cruz was assigned to Hawaii, where she taught math and science at St. Ann School in Kaneohe, Maryknoll High School in Honolulu and St. Anthony Junior and Senior High School in Wailuku, Maui.
After making her final vows in 1981, Sister de la Cruz was sent to the Marshall Islands and taught at Assumption High School for 12 years. She also served as principal for a few years, leading the school through successful accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges to become the first school in the Marshall Islands to be accredited.
Sister de la Cruz was then called by the congregation to give mission awareness talks in churches and schools across 15 U.S. states, from Alaska to Texas, from 1993-1997. There, she first learned of the many challenges faced by immigrants.
From 1997 to 2004, Sister de la Cruz worked at Catholic Charities Hawaii, serving immigrants, refugees, Pacific Islanders and people who are houseless in Hawaii. As an immigration specialist and employment specialist, she helped people find and maintain jobs to support themselves and their families.
“I am so grateful to Catholic Charities Hawaii for giving me the wonderful opportunity to welcome and assist our immigrant clients as I try to live the Gospel message of welcoming our brothers and sisters in Christ,” she said.
Instilling dignity, hope
Tina Andrade, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities Hawaii, said it was important to have Sister de la Cruz on staff to continue the mission of the Maryknoll Sisters, who were instrumental in founding Catholic Charities Hawaii after World War II.
“She carries on the tradition for Maryknoll of peace, justice and compassion and keeps their mission values alive,” Andrade said. “She is a continuous source of encouragement for us every day by keeping her love visible and treating everyone with dignity.”
In 2004, 30 years after becoming a Maryknoll sister, Sister de la Cruz became a U.S. citizen herself.
Completing this longtime dream keeps this self-proclaimed “Eveready” almost-octogenarian working with the same passion and intensity she had when she first joined the Maryknoll order.
“I think it’s (important to do this work) because of my own experience as a person who went through all the immigration policies and regulations,” she said. “It’s not easy to follow, especially for my clients, especially if they’re elderly and if they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Sister de la Cruz accompanies her clients to different agencies: “It’s good to go with the clients at that time just to help support them, to know that somebody is with them,” she said. “And I always say, ‘I’m praying for you,’ before they mail their application form. I say a prayer with them that everything will go well, because it depends on the adjudicators.”
Higa said Sister de la Cruz’s dependable, consistent work is needed now more than ever.
“I admire her humility, reliability and ability to restore dignity and hope to everyone who walks through our doors.”
Above: Maryknoll Sister Aurora de la Cruz has helped new arrivals to the United States for decades. (Courtesy photo)