Meet Sr. Mila Dela Cruz, SNDS

Sr. Mila Dela Cruz, SNDS, near statue of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA.

When I was in sixth grade, the first La Salette Fathers who came to my country used to celebrate Mass in my hometown of Ramon, Isabela, Philippines. The group of La Salette priests serving in my hometown included Frs. Conrad Blanchet, René Bisaillon, Maurice Cardinal, and Gerald Biron.

 

How I first heard about La Salette

They shared with us the story of La Salette at Mass when they came to visit our barrio of Raniag. Our parents were strongly attracted to the story of La Salette. My family always kept a picture of the Weeping Mother in our home to remind us. Her gestures and her tears continue to touch many hearts and lives.

Whenever Fr. René was driving the children to Mass, he would like to have everyone join in singing some folk songs. My whole family, which included seventeen children and one adopted brother, were close friends of Fr. Blanchet. In fact, during a long drought, he actually helped my father put in a water system on our family farm. He taught my father to do many other things and was often around to help in any way he could. Fr. Blanchet even taught our family how to speak English!

As our farm grew larger, our family become more self-sufficient through the generous help of the La Salette Missionaries. My family will always remember the generous presence and actions of the La Salettes leading all of us closer to God.

 

Hearing Our Lady’s Call 

All my nine brothers—one boy was adopted— and eight sisters and myself are products of La Salette education and spiritual formation. For my secondary education, I went to La Salette High School in Santiago. It was there that I first saw the statue of the Weeping Mother of La Salette in front of the school. I asked someone why she was crying and they told me about her. I told them that I wanted to become a sister of La Salette even though we had no La Salette sisters in our area.

 

La Salettes who served in Sr. Mila’s hometown: (left to right): Frs. Maurice Cardinal, Conrad Blanchet, René Bisaillon, and Gerald Biron.

During my college years, I met Sr. Terry Burgos and Sr. Saturnina Pascual, both La Salette Sisters. They invited me to come and see their convent. I still wanted to become a member of their community. I was a good seamstress and helped them with some sewing projects. Although I knew about several other religious orders of sisters, I chose to become a La Salette Sister.

My formation was done in Manila at our Regional House. In my fourth year, I received my veil. Then I began serving in the apostolate in La Salette and Diocesan schools in many capacities, including Religious Education Coordinator, Guidance Counselor, Registrar, and finally as Principal (Directress).

 

Coming to the United States

Sr. Mila (right) with six other a Salette Sisters on retreat in Attleboro, MA, in Nov., 2009

The Mother General of the La Salette Sisters, Sr. Marie Victoire, SNDS, called me in October 2007 and asked me to come to our mission in Miami, FL. Once I finished my responsibilities in La Salette High School in Ramon, I gladly went to Miami to join the three others sisters who were working as a Director of Religious Education, a School Secretary and as a Principal. I became Principal so that the other sister could take her sabbatical.

The ministry was very challenging and yet fulfilling. The American culture was itself a challenge. I was unprepared to deal with all the technical demands of my job, including using computers and other machines in order to keep my ministry organized. Amazingly I learned quickly how to do many things and I was even able to teach others to do the same.

At first the American culture was shocking. I was not used to so much choice with regard to food. In my own country, I remember well from my own childhood that I often went hungry. Many children in the Philippines are so needy of basic food yet there is so much in the U.S. I often find myself praying, asking the Lord: “Why can’t all the children have enough to eat?”

Now living in a land of plenty, I am always trying to reflect on how I can continue to live a simple life as a Sister of Our Lady of La Salette.

My Ministry in the Attleboro National Shrine

I am now working at the main office of the National Shrine in Attleboro, doing clerical work and coordinating our hundreds of volunteers. I hope that I can continue to be a good religious sister, learning more about my new country and ministry and living out my call to be a reconciler.

My call to serve here in the U.S. was a complete surprise but I am delighted to be here, serving as a La Salette Missionary. I am ready to accept new and daily challenges and I am becoming more determined than ever to do what the Lord asks of me.

The La Salette compound in Sister’s hometown of Ramon: (left to right) School
Offices; Parish Rectory; Grammar & High School with courtyard and La Salette statue.