[3] At a young age Padilla de Armas was recognized by the Sisters of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, and in turn Father Thomas Augustine Judge.
[3] This occurred at a time when Judge had been encouraging community members to continue doing public service as laypeople instead of taking up the vocation.
[4] Possibly due to financial constraints as well as family dedication to the Holy Trinity, Padilla de Armas was put into the care of the Sisters instead of being sent to college.
[6] In 1951, she organized a group of women to write a report on the religious needs and well-being of Puerto Ricans in the city in order to get the attention of the Archdiocese of New York.
[7] Later, while working with the First National Hispanic Encuentro (1972), Padilla de Armas educated diocesan priests in Puerto Rican language and culture.