Casa San Jose

Sarasota--Mario Marrero proudly took the oath for his United States citizenship with about 600 other new citizens in Tampa recently. Three years ago when he arrived at Casa San Jose, a Catholic Charities Housing program for special needs clients, his future was uncertain due to having cancer. Marrero credits his citizenship accomplishment to answered prayer and support from Catholic Charities staff.

“It has been a privilege for me to walk alongside Mario in the process of becoming a citizen,” said Barb Martin, Case Manager at Casa San Jose. “I have learned so much about the naturalization process through helping Mario with his paper work and it has been an opportunity to recognize how fortunate I am to be a U.S. citizen by birth. I accompanied Mario to the citizenship ceremony and it was an experience I will long remember.”

Marrero, originally from Cuba, underwent chemotherapy and is currently cancer free. He attended Catholic Charities Citizenship Classes, worked with certified citizenship counselors, and received tutoring for his citizenship test. “I felt that I was very prepared for the test,” he said.

 “After coming from a deprived country like Cuba, I feel so grateful to be in a country where citizens enjoy so much freedom,” Marrero said. Two weeks after receiving his citizenship, Marrero registered to vote and applied for a passport so that he could travel. “Voting and travel are two freedoms you do not have in Cuba,” he said.

Marrero said that he appreciates learning the history and geography of the United States. “The word ‘liberty’ has so much more meaning to me,” he said. “The whole process of achieving citizenship was a lot of hard work but so worth it.”

For more information about Catholic Charities Citizenship Services, please call 941-714-7829.

Photo: Mario Marrero proudly displays his United States citizenship and passport.