Confirmed in Mission: Catholic Priest Celebrates New U.S. Citizenship with St. Mary Littleton Community

Students sing 'God Bless America’ in assembly to honor beloved school principal 

(Photo provided)

On Thursday, March 13, Father James de Cendra, D.C.J.M., became a U.S. citizen, a timely testament to God’s providence on this ten-year anniversary of his arrival in the United States. 

Father de Cendra emigrated from Spain to Colorado in 2015 to carry out his ministry with the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a Spanish religious order whose mission is to form minds and hearts in virtue through the vocational character of teaching. 

Four years ago, Father de Cendra became the principal at St. Mary Catholic Virtue School in Littleton. During this time, his gratitude for citizenship has only deepened. 

“It became clear to me that citizenship was not something I had to work for, but rather that it would be a gift to me,” he said. “I'm not a child of the States. I'm being adopted. Like any Catholic, we've been adopted by God with Christ through our Baptism.” 

Students and faculty at St. Mary School in Littleton gathered to celebrate this milestone at the monthly principal’s assembly on Wednesday. A lively scene, students on the bleachers waved American flags and chanted “U.S.A.” as the school community filed into the gymnasium. 

After praying an “Our Father” and reciting the school’s mission statement together, the students rose to sing “God Bless America” to their beloved principal.

With formation in the virtues at the center of the school’s educational model, Father de Cendra emphasized the importance of piety in his brief remarks.  

“Out of gratitude for being adopted by this beautiful country, I will have to grow in piety: the desire to honor and love this country more and more because it has adopted me as a father,” he said. “I invite you, who have been Americans from the beginning, to honor your country, to serve your country and to die for your country. So, pray for me that I would be worthy of this gift of becoming an American among you. Would you pray for me?” 

This was met with a round of applause from the hundreds of students in the bleachers and the faculty, dressed in red, white and blue. 

For Joyce Russell, vice principal, this moment exemplified the unity and joy of St. Mary School in Littleton.  

"We have lots to celebrate here at St. Mary's," she said, noting that the parish and school are always bustling with activity. Every time a visitor comes through the school doors, Russell added, "you'll see the excitement of the students coming down the hallway." 

To her, coming together as a school community was a symbol of hope in the Jubilee Year.  

The 2025 theme at St. Mary Parish and School, integrated within school Mass and events, is the “Jubilee of the Beating Heart.”  

“In a way, we’re participating in the heartbeat of America, too,” she told the Denver Catholic. 

“The Jubilee Year of Hope is about forgiveness and redemption, but it’s also a promise,” Father de Cendra added. “God is making me a promise through citizenship, saying, ‘I confirm your mission. I’m going to make you an American.’ You can see this as a confirmation of my order’s call here to come to the States. We were not intending to come to Colorado, but then Archbishop Chaput invited us here. We have seminarians who are American — Brother Joseph, Brother Riley and Brother Mark — and that’s another confirmation. God is saying, ‘I will give you vocations here.’” 

For Father de Cendra, the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and St. Mary School, citizenship is more than a logistical process. It’s an opportunity for God’s providence to strengthen and guide entire communities for mission. 

“Father is a fantastic leader,” said Patricia Kruse, kindergarten teacher. “He has the best interest of our children, our teachers and our staff at heart — and his goal is to lead our students to sainthood.” 

Though his citizenship journey has drawn to a close, Father de Cendra’s mission in the United States continues: to draw souls to Christ, one day, one Mass and one student at a time.