Migrant shares struggles, helps others feel at home

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
      Managing Editor

National Migration Week is Sept. 22-28, and the Jubilee of Migrants will take place Oct. 4-5.  Here, a Springfield woman who migrated to this country over two decades ago, remembers what it was like and tells us what she is doing to help others in similar situations.

It was just about 25 years ago when Springfield resident and St. Katharine Drexel parishioner Ana Manriquez came to the United States from Mexico. She was frightened but looking for a better life for herself and her family. Now, at age 58, she tries to help other women in similar positions as the president of Hispanic Women of Springfield (HWOS).

At HWOS, Manriquez leads and supports the board in planning, coordinating, and overseeing events and initiatives that bring resources and opportunities to members and the broader community. “Through our work, we focus on areas such as health, education, leadership, and community engagement,” Manriquez said. “I dedicate myself to recruiting new members, building partnerships, and promoting the organization in different community settings.”

Manriquez remembers how difficult it was for her when she first arrived in this country. “I was born in Mexico and came to the United States at the age of 33,” she said. “The transition was extremely difficult for me. The language barrier was one of the hardest challenges. I suddenly found myself unable to communicate, express my needs, or even understand simple things. Beyond that, the cultural differences created a profound sense of isolation.

“When I first arrived in Springfield, I had no family, no friends, no job, and not even a car of my own. The only person I had beside me was the father of my daughters, but even with that support, I felt very alone and overwhelmed,” she said. “I carried with me the hope of building a safer and better life for my children, because at that time my hometown in Mexico was becoming increasingly unsafe and opportunities for work were disappearing.”

 At first Manriquez worked in housekeeping at a hotel, but she quickly moved on from that. Next, she worked in coffee shops in White Oaks Mall and at Springfield Memorial Hospital. While she was working at the hospital, she met a Dominican Sister who invited her to work in the Dominican’s motherhouse.

While working at the motherhouse, Manriquez studied cosmetology and continued to raise her children. Both of her daughters graduated from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School and are now adults. One of her daughters was the first Hispanic woman to be a member of the Springfield Police Department. Manriquez also owns her own business in Springfield.

Manriquez says it is important for people to understand about how migrants live and work in their communities. “The migrant community in Springfield is very diverse, but what unites us is the experience of sacrifice and resilience,” she said. “Many migrants come here searching for safety, stability, and opportunities for their families. At the same time, they face barriers such as language, limited access to resources, and the challenge of adapting to a new culture while still holding on to their traditions. In Springfield I have seen how the migrant community works very hard, often in jobs that are essential but not always recognized. Despite the struggles, there is a strong sense of hope, family, and faith that keeps people moving forward.”

And faith is key, Manriquez emphasizes, adding that Catholicism has been important to her and so many others. “Our parish has played a very important role in this journey,” she said. “In 2001, we were blessed when our bishop allowed Father Carlos, a priest from Columbia, to begin celebrating Spanish Mass once a month at Little Flower Church. Not long after that Msgr. (Kevin, now Bishop of Orange in California) Vann, from Blessed Sacrament, committed to offering weekly Spanish Mass, and that marked the beginning of our Hispanic Catholic community at Sacred Heart Church (of St. Katherine Drexel Parish).

“Although many of the families did not live close to the parish, those first years were essential in building a strong faith community,” she said. “For people like me it was a space to learn, grow in faith, and share traditions. It became a place where migrants could feel at home, connect with others who shared similar cultural roots, and pass those values and beliefs on to the next generation.”

 Manriquez knows she is a stronger person because of what she has lived through and wants to help others who find themselves in trying circumstances.  “Those first years were filled with moments of anguish and uncertainty,” she said. “There were many days when I questioned if I had made the right choice. Yet, little by little, I learned the language. I began to understand the culture, and I built a support system. Every obstacle shaped me into the person that I am today, and while the pain of that transition will always be a part of me, it also gave me the strength and determination to serve others who face similar struggles.

“I see my role today not only as a responsibility, but also as a commitment to strengthening and uplifting the voices of Hispanic women in Springfield,” Manriques said.  “I am very blessed to be here.”