40 YEARS IN BOLIVIA

Dear brothers and sisters, today, February 28, 2021, our Religious Family of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, celebrates Thanksgiving Day. It’s the 40th anniversary of our arrival to Bolivia. Four Sisters from the South of Brazil arrived to this land of the Bolivian Amazon and the first community was opened in Magdalena Iténez-Beni: Sister Jacinta María Lob, (currently in the San Ramón mission) Sisters Francisca Moroni and Cilene Bigolim Forlin (deceased) and Sister María Cándida Rodríguez, who returned to Brazil.

Over these 40 years, 11 other Sisters, encouraged and impelled by the Missionary Spirit and the strength of the Charism of Communion, came here to strengthen the Mission, which little by little, expanded to different places in Bolivia: 1982 in San Joaquin Beni until 2014; 1989 in Alalay-Cochabamba; 1996 Eucalyptus-Cochabamba; 1998 San Ramon-Beni and in 2013 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

The presence of Sisters and testimony of their dedication, self-giving and service not only extended to new communities and places, but also manifested in the attraction of native vocations, especially from Beni who joined us to continue to expand the charism of communion in border areas: Sr. Eddith Duran Maiser (deceased), Sr. Gabriela Cuéllar Durán, Sr. Madina Moroña Suàrez, Sr. Darcy Flores Cabao, and Sr. Ericka Rodriguez Salvatierra.

Providentially, the anniversary of the foundation of our mission in Bolivia coincides with the Year of St. Joseph, a wonderful gift that the Church gives us through His Holiness Pope Francis. Thanks to God, we open our hearts to welcome four other Sisters from Argentina and Brazil who generously responded to the call to serve the brothers and sisters in Bolivian Amazon lands, to give their lives to the service of people in different fields: in the formation of young people, the laity and especially women to promote more Life in the Amazon.

We unite in prayer asking the Lord of the harvest and through the intercession of St. Joseph to send more workers to the harvest.  We also ask for the strength for those who already carry out the mission and we pray to the Lord to awaken in the generous hearts of our young people, the desire to respond to the call, giving themselves without fear in the service of the Kingdom.

“St. Joseph, you who know how to make what seems impossible possible, help us, as you helped Father Medaille, our founder, to give our lives to carry out the Project of Communion in the world, enlightened and driven by the Trinity, by the Incarnation and the Eucharist.

Sr. Santina Smiderle