This Independence Day will feel different for Santa and Virginia.
Like millions of Americans, they will gather with family, admire fireworks, and proudly display the nation’s flag. However, this year, as the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, the celebration carries a deeper meaning. For the first time, they will celebrate the Fourth of July not simply as residents of the United States, but as American citizens.
Their paths to this moment could not have been more different. Santa arrived from the Dominican Republic in 2019. Virginia came from Uruguay more than two decades ago. Both left behind familiar lives, faced the uncertainty of starting over in a new country, and spent years building futures for their families. Along the way, they discovered Catholic Charities of New York’s International Center, where English and citizenship classes gave them not only the knowledge to pass a civics exam, but also the confidence to embrace a new chapter in their lives.
Their journeys are just two among thousands supported each year by Catholic Charities.
From immigration legal services and employment assistance to English language instruction, citizenship preparation, and connections to essential benefits, Catholic Charities of New York accompanies newcomers as they build new lives in New York. Last year alone, we served more than 108,000 immigrants and refugees — helping families not only rebuild their lives but create new opportunities for generations to come.
Santa and Virginia’s stories are reminders that becoming a citizen is about far more than memorizing one hundred civics questions or taking an oath. It is about perseverance, belonging, and finding ways to contribute to the country that has become home.
Building New Lives, One Step at a Time
For Virginia, arriving in the United States in 2002 meant leaving behind a life she had carefully built in Uruguay.
“I came here when I was already thirty,” she recalled. “My life changed by about eighty percent.”
Back home, she had been independent and working. In the United States, everything — from the language to the culture — felt unfamiliar. “There were many years when I felt isolated,” she reflected. “I focused on my family and my children.” Only later, after she was able to work, did she begin building a new career. Today, she prepares healthy meals for the Poor Clare Sisters at Mount Alvernia Monastery in Wappingers Falls while also helping her husband’s business with bookkeeping and office management.
Santa’s journey began differently.
Before emigrating from the Dominican Republic, she and her husband owned a textile manufacturing business, producing jeans and clothing. Economic insecurity eventually led them to seek a new future in the United States.
Without English skills, Santa accepted work in housekeeping. “It is honest work,” she said. “But it wasn’t my calling.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the tremendous need for healthcare workers, she saw an opportunity to serve others. Although certified nursing assistant training in New York was only available in English, she found a Spanish-language program in Florida. Despite limited financial resources, she traveled there multiple times, stayed in inexpensive hotels, completed the coursework, and earned her certification before transferring her license back to New York.
Today, she works in a nursing home caring for elderly residents. “My people need me,” she said simply. Speaking about her patients, her voice filled with emotion. “They don’t treat me like an employee. They treat me like family.”
Many residents affectionately call her “Santa” or even “Christmas” — a name they remember even through the challenges of dementia. It is one of the greatest affirmations she could imagine.
More Than English Classes
For both women, the next challenge was becoming U.S. citizens.
Virginia had long promised herself that once her sons were grown, she would pursue citizenship. When she began searching for classes, another organization referred her to Catholic Charities’ International Center. She enrolled immediately. Then tragedy struck.
Shortly after receiving her textbooks, Virginia learned that her sister in Uruguay had been diagnosed with cancer. She returned home to care for her through the final months of her illness. “My heart wasn’t in studying,” she explained. “I wanted to continue, but I couldn’t.” After her sister passed away, she returned to New York carrying both grief and determination. She resumed her studies exactly where she had left off.
Santa’s path required a different kind of persistence.
She first joined Catholic Charities’ English classes with instructor Brian Kirchner before later enrolling in citizenship preparation. Because she began with virtually no English, she completed the citizenship course five separate times.
Rather than becoming discouraged, she embraced repetition. “I learned the entire book,” she said. “I practiced it over and over.” She recited the one hundred civics questions aloud throughout the day until the answers became second nature. “I would repeat them like a song,” she said. “When I finally felt confident in my pronunciation, I knew I was ready.”
Brian, Citizenship and ESOL Program Manager at Catholic Charities’ International Center, witnessed firsthand the extraordinary commitment both women brought to their studies.
Virginia attended every class and every optional office hour offered to students. Although her English proficiency meant she did not necessarily need the additional tutoring, she insisted on participating anyway. “I just wanted more time to learn,” she told him.
Those weekly one-on-one sessions with volunteers proved invaluable. “The support from the volunteer teachers was so important,” Virginia said. “Working one-on-one helped me grow so much. It gave me confidence.”
Santa, meanwhile, inspired classmates with her determination. Each time another student announced they had passed the citizenship interview, she became even more motivated. “They passed,” she remembered thinking. “I want to pass too.”
Together, instructors, volunteers, classmates, and staff created something much larger than a classroom. They formed a community where newcomers encouraged one another, celebrated each milestone, and believed that success was possible.
Discovering America Along the Way
As both women prepared for their citizenship interviews, they discovered something unexpected. They fell in love with American history.
“I fell in love with the history of this country,” Santa said.
The Thanksgiving story fascinated her. So did Benjamin Franklin’s inventions, Abraham Lincoln’s leadership, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s work for civil rights. “I started connecting the stories together,” she said. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to keep learning.”
Virginia experienced something similar.
Living only minutes from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home, she had visited the historic site before without giving it much thought. After studying his presidency in her citizenship classes, she returned with entirely new appreciation. “Now when family comes to visit,” she said with a smile, “I’m going to take them there and tell them everything I learned.”
Learning about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the nation’s history changed something deeper within her. “I didn’t just earn a certificate of citizenship,” she reflected. “I came away with an even deeper love for this country.”
That growing appreciation transformed what could have been simply another exam into something much more meaningful.
By the time Virginia arrived for her citizenship interview, months of studying had replaced uncertainty with confidence. “I wanted them to ask me more questions,” she laughed. “I was ready.”
Santa also remembers the overwhelming emotion of finally reaching the finish line. The first person she called after passing her interview wasn’t a family member. It was Brian.
Then came one final surprise.
Without knowing it beforehand, Santa and Virginia discovered they would take the Oath of Allegiance together. Seeing one another again made the day even more joyful. “We did it!” they exclaimed, embracing after years of studying side by side.
Giving Back to the Country They Now Call Home
This year’s Independence Day will hold special significance.
Virginia jokes that becoming a citizen during America’s 250th anniversary makes her feel “famous.” She plans to celebrate by showing her visiting sister New York City, seeing the Statue of Liberty, traveling to Niagara Falls to see her son, and experiencing the country she now proudly calls home.
Yet for both women, citizenship is not the end of their journey.
Virginia has already enrolled in additional English classes because she wants to continue improving. She and her husband hope to invest in property together, and she dreams of one day volunteering with Catholic Charities of New York. “I want to give back,” she said. “If there’s something I can do, I’m here.” As someone who loves to cook, she even joked that she would happily prepare meals for volunteers, staff members, or donors as a small way of expressing her gratitude.
Santa also refuses to stop growing.
She plans to continue studying English before pursuing training to become a licensed practical nurse. She looks forward to voting in American elections for the first time and hopes one day to reunite with her son, who remains in the Dominican Republic.
Most of all, both women hope their stories encourage others who may be uncertain about beginning the journey themselves.
“It really is possible,” Virginia said. “No matter your age or how long you’ve lived here, you can do it.”
Santa’s message is equally simple. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “Take the first step.”
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, the stories of Santa and Virginia remind us that the nation’s ideals continue to inspire people from around the world. They arrived seeking opportunity. Through perseverance, hard work, and the support of Catholic Charities, they found confidence, community, and a place to belong.
Now, as new United States citizens, both women share the same hope: not simply to enjoy the opportunities this country has given them, but to help strengthen it in return.
Because America’s story has never been finished. With every new citizen who chooses to serve their neighbors, keep learning, and build a better future for the next generation, another chapter is written.
Thanks to women like Santa and Virginia, that story continues with hope.
