“I know their suffering and I believe together as a community of faith we can make a difference in their lives,” she said.
As the new coordinator she will help to carry out the office’s goals to advocate for just immigration reform at the federal, state and local level, offer services to the immigrant community and assist in communicating Church teaching on immigration to the lay faithful.
Her passion for social justice issues and wishing to be an advocate and a voice for the undocumented immigrants in the diocese led her to the coordinator position following the retirement of Kathi Scarpace.
“I am trying to transform hearts,” Cruz said, “to let people see that Christ lives in each one of us. It doesn’t matter our background or how we came into this country.”
She was brought from Mexico to the United States when she was nine years old. Growing up in Santa Ana, Cruz often lived in fear of coming home from school to find her parents missing.
While her family began the process to immigrate to the United States, they were placed on a waiting list. She didn’t become a naturalized citizen until 1986 through the Immigration Reform and Control Act.
“The most exciting thing about being a U.S. citizen was that I got to vote,” Cruz said. “Amnesty gave me the opportunity to experience the American dream. I now look into legislation and advocate for what is best for most and not just some.”
She began working in social justice in 1998 for the Outreach and Social Justice Ministry at St. Martin de Porres Church in Yorba Linda.
“It was a challenge at times,” Cruz said. “People struggle to live out their faith in their community.”
Cruz recently served as operations manager for Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), a faith-based community organizing group with strong ties to the diocese. ICUC has helped many parishes in the diocese publicly advocate for immigration reform and immigrants’ rights.
“I’ve seen that living out your faith and voicing your values in public can be a great transformative tool,” Cruz said.
She hopes to use her story and those of current undocumented immigrants in advocating for comprehensive immigration reform and other issues related to immigration.
“My faith is what calls me to advocate for the vulnerable, to tell the story of the voiceless and organizing communities of faith is how I put my faith in action.”