sentences:  He then decided to work as a "donado" (lay brother) at the San Juan de Dios Hospital where he was admitted to the "Cofradía de San Juan de Dios", a brotherhood affiliated with the hospital open to "indios".During this time, he improved his public speaking and studied the Bible along with other religious writings.In December 1832, 18-year-old De la Cruz, along with "indio" secular priest Br.