Editor’s note: In observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15), we are sharing this reflection from the ELCA Ministries of Diverse Cultures and Communities team. Hector Carrasquillo, program director for ELCA Latino Ministries, met Magali Sanchez-Hall when he served Trinity Lutheran Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York City from 2001 to 2004.
In 2001, Magali Sanchez-Hall’s life took a pivotal turn. An undocumented Mexican immigrant and single mother to three young children, she found herself in a Brooklyn shelter after seeking refuge from her abuser. She was struggling to navigate the pain and uncertainty of her circumstances when she met a woman hosting workshops for domestic violence survivors. The woman’s guidance extended beyond the shelter—she introduced Sanchez-Hall to the Lutheran church and Hector Carrasquillo’s Latino ministry.
These introductions set her on the path toward healing by instilling hope and empowering her to prioritize her safety and that of her children.
As soon as Sanchez-Hall secured stable housing, she began volunteering with Carrasquillo and Trinity Lutheran Church. The congregation became a sanctuary for her family—not just spiritually but emotionally and socially as well. She worked part time and volunteered extensively, finding renewed purpose through service.
When the coach of the church’s basketball team stepped down, Sanchez-Hall stepped up. When the community needed someone to lead the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, she said yes again. When asked to teach confirmation classes, she hesitated, unsure of her knowledge of the New Testament. But Carrasquillo was there to remind her of her worth and potential when she couldn’t yet see it herself.
“You have a light and a joy inside you,” he told her. “It needs to be shared.”
He gave her books to study and encouraged her every step of the way, preparing her for a role of leadership, faith and community-building.
A community to help
Sanchez-Hall was regaining her strength and independence when her abuser returned, promising that things would be different. They weren’t—but she had changed. This time, she had a community to call upon.
After every violent incident, she called Carrasquillo. He always answered—listening patiently, offering prayer and calmly but firmly urging her: “You need to leave.” Known lovingly as “Papa Hector,” he provided unwavering support and spiritual guidance through every crisis from 2001 to 2005.
In 2005, with the support of Trinity’s Healing Center and legal aid from Sanctuary for Families, Sanchez-Hall adjusted her immigration status and became a permanent resident under the Violence Against Women Act. She felt hopeful for the first time in years.
Then, in March 2006, her abuser nearly took her life.
Sanchez-Hall fled New York with her children, seeking refuge with her mother in Los Angeles. Amid the chaos and trauma of her escape, Carrasquillo remained a constant. Through prayer, reassurance and compassion, he helped her find enough peace to continue caring for her children and close her eyes at night, even when the fear lingered.
“You have a light and a joy inside you. It needs to be shared.”
Papa Hector’s faith in Sanchez-Hall helped her find her own.
She built a new home in Los Angeles and, in 2007, earned her GED diploma. She enrolled in community college and later applied to her dream school: University of California, Los Angeles. She was accepted and received her bachelor’s degree in 2013, followed by a master’s in public policy in 2015.
Sanchez-Hall’s faith in the Lutheran church led her to Carrasquillo, whose unwavering belief in her led her to safety, healing and a life filled with purpose. His mentorship helped guide her transformation from survivor to scholar, from volunteer to community leader and visionary.
Today, Sanchez-Hall is a passionate advocate for environmental and social justice, guided by a calling rooted in faith and community. She credits Trinity and the man she still calls “Papa Hector” as foundational to her journey. Her story is a living testament to the transformative power of faith, compassion and a church that saw not a victim but a light waiting to shine.
