70th ANNIVERSARY OF CONGRESS OF THE CONFERENCE OF RELIGIOUS OF BRAZIL (CRB) - A Landmark of Memory, Mysticism, Prophecy and Hope

The Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB) celebrated its 70th anniversary with an extraordinary congress that brought together men and women religious from all over the country to reflect on its history, with the themes of Historical and Grateful Memory, Mysticism, Prophecy, and Hope. They also renewed their commitment to consecrated life in Brazil. The event took place in Fortaleza, CE (Northeast Brazil), from May 30 to June 2, and was marked by moments of deep spirituality, historical reflection, sharing, meetings, and celebrations.

THE FIRST DAY WAS MARKED BY HISTORICAL MEMORY

The congress began on May 30 with a Corpus Christi Mass presided over by Bishop Gregório Paixão, bringing together bishops, priests, religious men, and women from the 20 regions of Brazil. The official opening was given by the President of the National CRB, Sister Eliane Cordeiro de Souza. Other prominent religious leaders were present, including CLAR's Executive Secretary, Sr. Daniela Cannavina, and the former presidents of the National CRB, Sr. Claudino Falchetto and  Sr. Maria Inês Vieira Ribeiro.

Friar Luiz Carlos Susin spoke on the theme: "The historical-ecclesiological memory of the 70 years of the National CRB," taking the group on a real journey through the paths taken by religious in these 70 years of history. Then Sr. M. Neusa dos Santos, the CRB's communications coordinator, showed a video documentary about the Conference's history. The first day ended with guidelines for the next day's pilgrimage.

THE SECOND DAY WAS A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE 

On the morning of the second day, the participants left for the Sanctuary of São Francisco das Chagas, in Canindé-CE, where they took part in a walk imbued with mysticism and spirituality. Moderated by Sisters Luzinete de Araujo, Rocilene do Socorro Souza and Friar César Lindemberg. The pilgrimage to Canindé was a highlight, where Consecrated Religious Life united in fraternity and prayer, strengthening the spirit of the participants and celebrating the mystique of Ceará. The Eucharistic celebration was a time to celebrate a long journey of joys and struggles in the 70 years of the Conference of Religious of Brazil, the CRB.

At the foot of the largest image of St. Francis in the world, the Consecrated Life of Brazil stood in contemplation and praise to God for our common home. "Everything is interconnected as if we were one".  

Canindé-CE became the home of Consecrated Religious Life during the 70th anniversary of the CRB. The day included a Eucharistic celebration and a moment of prayer, ending with a return to Fortaleza.

PROPHECY LED THE THIRD DAY 

The third day included a Eucharistic celebration that recalled some of the martyrs of the Church in Latin America, highlighting figures such as Sister Dorothy, Dom Pedro Casaldáliga, and Oscar Romero.

The Prophetic Presences panel featured speakers such as Sister Raquel Pena Pinto, who spoke about Casa Betânia in Porto Alegre, RS, a shelter for women victims of domestic violence, and Sister Rita Lopes, who spoke about the mission to the indigenous peoples of Roraima. Maria Lourdes Urban brought the theme of integral ecology, emphasizing solidarity in the face of environmental catastrophes, and highlighting the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.

The Thematic Rooms were one of the highlights of the Congress. The participants took part in thematic rooms where they reflected on: Youth, vocations, community life, communication, and technology, among others. The day ended with a toast to the 70th anniversary of the CRB and a cultural evening animated by singer Zé Vicente.

HOPE ENVELOPED THE CONGRESS PARTICIPANTS ON THE LAST DAY

After a prayerful moment, Sr. Elis Alberta Ribeiro dos Santos presented the Casa Amazônica de Francisco e Clara, focused on new economies for the care of lives. Vera Isabel Rambo Coutinho discussed the Inter-Congregational and Inter-Institutional Project TransformAção, and Sr. Maria Couto spoke about the Network of Youth Advisors and Caregivers.

Zuleica Aparecida Silvano and Sr. Joilson de Souza Toledo commented on faith, hope, and charity, the central virtues of consecrated life, culminating in a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Secretary General of the CNBB, which brought the event to a close.

FEELING OF GRATITUDE AND HOPE

The congress was a deeply meaningful event for all who took part, marked by the celebration of memory, mysticism, prophecy, and hope that characterize consecrated religious life in Brazil. The participants left renewed, with a sense of gratitude for 70 years of history and the hope of continuing their mission with renewed vigor and creativity, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

We concluded this celebration with a deep sense of gratitude and hope. Gratitude to all the men and women religious who, with their dedication and sacrifice, have built and continue to build the history of the CRB. Hope that, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we can continue the mission of being light and salt on earth, promoting the Kingdom of God with renewed vigor and creativity.

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH AT THE CONGRESS

A group of 20 Sisters of St. Joseph (Chambéry, Institute, Rochester) participated in the Congress and shared the importance of it for the Consecrated Religious Life of the Sister of St. Joseph and highlighted some of the most important themes and reflections for their lives and mission.

Sr. Miriam Rosa Nicolodelli (Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chambery)

"The Congress was a moment of unity for the most diverse charisms and spiritualties, where we were all able to experience the synodality of Consecrated Religious Life (CRL). As Sisters of St. Joseph, we have always dreamed of and sought to experience inter-congregational life in our communities and the most diverse fields of ecclesial, social, political, and economic action. At this Congress, we not only felt and perceived this possibility but we were also summoned and called to make it happen so that together we could respond to the needs and urgencies of today's world. 

The revival of grateful memory, mysticism, prophecy, and hope was very significant. We were able to feel the journey of the National CRB over the course of these 70 years and realize that this beautiful, significant, and challenging history was built with the participation, collaboration, and commitment of each and every one of us, the Congregations and Institutes. I would like to highlight the work of the Coordination Office, which animates and calls the Consecrated Religious Life (CRL) in Brazil to unity.

The themes are all part of the history and journey that the CRL has lived and is planning for the future in Brazil. However, significant and challenging for me is "prophecy and hope" in the defense of human life and the planet. With the strength and inspiration of the God of Life, we are called to walk and to be a presence of hope, as CRL and CSJ, in the reality in which we live." 

Sr. Josefa Magalhães ((Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chambery)

"Our charism is one of unity and communion, and it is essential to walk in unity with the National CRB and its nuclei. The Congress strengthened this journey in synodality and challenged us to live a life that is coherent with the life options we have assumed. We must be a sign of the revelation of the Trinity God in our religious communities, in the ecclesial community, and among the people of God.

Prophecy, especially the panel on prophetic presences, was the most significant for me. Prophecy is alive and powerful. The testimonies given touched me deeply and challenged me to take concrete action to care for the environment here in the community of Cansanção, where waste is not recycled. I plan to contact the town hall about this issue. I believe that mysticism goes hand in hand with prophecy

The grateful memory stood out for me. What a beautiful history of the 70 years of the CRB, built by a multitude of religious men and women who have given and continue to give their lives with great dedication and commitment to the mission of evangelization throughout Brazil and the world. How many good deeds have been done and continue to be done! My heart is filled with joy at experiencing and feeling this time of grace at the CRB 70th Anniversary of Congress. This grace also extends to the Congregation and the Church".

Sr. Talita Angélica  da Silva Santos(Institute)

"It reinforces the strength of the inter-congregational journey and the importance of meetings and sharing, of living together. The inter-congregational journey is strengthened by meetings and sharing, and by living together. These moments are essential for strengthening our unity and mutual collaboration.

In the reality where I live, far from other contacts with the CRL and moments of encounters like those of the CRB, I feel that the life of the mission and its own dynamics end up taking me over completely. Experiencing a moment of celebration like this reminds me of my vocation as a consecrated woman and the importance of our common identity. 

Returning to memory is essential, not only to value what has been built but also as a constant reminder to innovate based on the knowledge acquired. This process of remembering and innovating strengthens our journey and drives us to continue our mission with renewed energy and purpose

Sr. Ana Amélia de Oliveira Miranda (Chambery)

The Congress marked our lives as religious, as Christians, and as a church. I took part with great joy, and each moment strengthened my experience of the synodality of communion. As a CSJ, it was very significant: the testimonies of elderly leaders in the presidency over these 70 years, the prophetic strength in the harsh years of the military dictatorship, and the martyrdom of religious men and women. The demands for the preferential option for the poor, the testimonies of actions in the peripheries, with migrants, the landless, the quilombolas, and the issue of slave labor. I took part in the working group on "A cry for life", which is challenging and urgently needs to be strengthened. 

I feel that the most important thing is for life to happen, to be rebuilt from the dynamism of a prophetic, committed presence, with joy, and we celebrated a beautiful grateful memory at this Congress. The themes were so interspersed in practice and their significance for my experience that I highlight them all in their importance, beauty, and richness of experience: Grateful Memory, Mysticism, Prophecy, and Hope.

'Let's celebrate together in grateful memory the 70 years of the CRB Amid the pain of this world, we are light and hope with our eyes fixed on Jesus, united we are light'".

Sr. Gertrude Salette Beal (Chambery)

We are CRB and our participation as sisters from the north to the south of the country, a significant group as a province, together with the other congregations of St. Joseph, highlights that we are bold women who make a difference.

Important for me were the contents we dealt with, the meeting with the religious, the organization of the event, and the Eucharistic celebrations. The experience of living together and the connections I was able to make with God, and with myself by doing a personal re-reading, meeting up with many acquaintances, and the commitment to the universe in caring for the planet. I would like to highlight the welcome at the Institute of the Sisters of St. Anne. I would also highlight the themes of Memory and Hope. In memory, all the re-reading that Friar Luiz Carlos Suzin did with objectivity and great clarity, from the official foundation in 1954 until 2024. A time pregnant with promise. "We are a tabernacle of the Spirit and of the incarnation". In 1950 there were 36,000 religious in Brazil. With Vatican II, there was a great openness and new experiences with the communities of the people, the VRC was inserted. Today, we are resuming our journey as a Church - Synodality. Memory is our identity, what we do is update it, and bring it into the present.

Hope - "The CRL is the living memory of Jesus Christ in the Church". The Word of God is effective, the Holy Spirit leads us. The Kingdom is already there; we make it visible. Faith is believing in God's love and revealing it. Charity is the expression of faith. To see the signs is to go beyond, as Mary Magdalene did. Can we ask ourselves why we cry in the Religious Life? Why do we cry and for whom? John 20:11-18 Come out of the emptiness of death. Why do you cry? What are you looking for? The Lord is present in the reality where we are. We have to be like Mary Magdalene, who says with her experience: "I have seen the Lord. Hope makes us overcome inertia and look differently".

Sr. Rosa Maria Porangaba (Chambery)

The Congress is of vital importance for the Consecrated Religious Life of the Sisters of St. Joseph, as it allows us to give new meaning to our hope, revisit our past to illuminate the present, and look to the future we are building. This event prepares us to hand on to the new generations a path of discipleship, synodality, missionary spirit, and a life centered on Jesus, which gives meaning to our searches. In addition, the Congress calls us to strengthen our prophecy and renew our commitment to be an outgoing, synodal, and prophetic Church, remaining faithful to our founder, our Lord Jesus. It reaffirms us as missionary disciples of this project of life and holiness, which is essential to our mission and identity as consecrated women.

The most important thing for me was the fraternal and profound interaction experienced during the Congress, which reactivated hope and spurred me on a journey of greater courage and commitment. These moments, illuminated by references from Religious Life and the Church, provided prayer, Eucharist, relaxation, joy, dialog, and listening, especially during the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of St. Francis of the Wounds in Canindé, Ceará. The renewal of the commitment to missionary fidelity and the founding charism was striking and motivating, reviving the vocation-mission and the desire to "embrace the future with hope". In short, this event was a true kairos, an opportune time of grace, which motivates, drives, and revives the sisters' vocation-mission, preparing them for future challenges with hope and determination.

I would highlight the Hope panel: The theme was profoundly striking. The Congress emphasized that, amid so many realities of pain and suffering, Consecrated Life is called to be a sign of hope in the world. Christ is presented as our hope, and we are sent to proclaim this hope by living His Word. The renewal of the vocation-mission with joy and the commitment to "awaken the world" to the divine that dwells in our midst are aspects that reaffirm the importance of keeping hope alive, even in the most challenging times.

Sr. Rita Evejania dos Santos (Institute)

It allowed us to celebrate together as consecrated life the grateful memory of so many lives of sisters and brothers who gave of themselves without sparing themselves in the service of the Kingdom. Within this mystique, the lives of so many sisters from our Congregations of St. Joseph who, in hiding, were and are also leaven in the dough. The second aspect is the very moment of meeting other brothers and sisters on the journey. "How good and gentle it is for brothers and sisters to live together" (Ps 133). The embrace, the listening, the feeling together... We are not alone on the journey. It was lighting and rekindling the flame of our being Consecrated, women and men of prophecy and hope! The third aspect was being together as Sisters of Saint Joseph, recognizing ourselves in this prophetic journey of consecrated life, "going where no one goes" and building unity together from a living and active hope! (It was very good to meet)!

I confess that I find it difficult to single out what was most important. I think the whole congress was very important, touching thought out, and prepared with great care. But remembering those who preceded us (the entire CRB organization) was very strong for me because they are our roots and identity. It was Consecrated Life that dared in an unfavorable context, it was a prophetic and hopeful voice that organized itself to better serve and resist the prevailing structures. The history of the CRB is itself a prophecy!

Sister Zuleica's speech was very profound, provocative, full of life, and, above all, of great hope and confirmation of our vocation as Consecrated Life... "ALWAYS HOPE!" 

Sr. Nilva dal Bello (Chambery)

The Congress was an experience that strengthened the Charism of unity of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the richness of sharing Consecrated Religious Life, in connection with the Communities, the Church, and the people, especially the most impoverished and victims of the floods.

The general theme of the conference was important: "Memory, Mysticism, Prophecy and Hope. The celebrations, especially the opening of the 70th anniversary of the CRL's progressive and dynamic journey in Brazil and Latin America. Strengthening the dynamism of the following of Jesus Christ in essence and our journey together. The joy of being present at the Congress and experiencing the witness of life inter-congregationally. I would also like to highlight the experiences of the Congregations: The shelter for abused women in Porto Alegre; Insertion and work with indigenous people in Amazonas; CRB/RS - "Flood in Muçum"; Project for the Transformation of Waste Recycling Cooperatives in Passo Fundo/RS; Attunement and prayer with the Climate Tragedies in the RGS. I would like to highlight the prophetic dimension, which has had a stronger impact on me, on our communities, on the Province, and the Congregations, through the strengthening and urgency of listening to and acting on the "Cry for Life: human and of the common home". "The time is now."

Sr. Ireny Rosa da Silva(Rochester)

We, the Sisters of St. Joseph, are consecrated to serve God in the person of our brothers and sisters who need our help. We are present in much of the world and, in Brazil, we are linked to all consecrated people through the Conference of Religious, which was created 70 years ago to animate and make the charisms of the congregations known and respected through the work carried out by consecrated people. The Congress was a celebration of the recognition of our presence and work at the Conference. It encourages us to know that Religious Life is contributing a lot to improving life on the planet and that we, the Sisters of St. Joseph, have done a lot and are doing a lot.

It was very important to exchange experiences and to be able to celebrate together the same history/memory, the same mystique, the same prophecy and to share the same hope that all religious have for a transformation for the better. We were able to experience that there are many of us doing what we can with the hope that the environment will be recovered and respected by development. Everything we're doing is worth it.

I was proud to see the number of us Sisters of St. Joseph taking part in the Congress: we are a loving family who seek and celebrate life. I loved being with all of you at the Congress.

Sr. Maria da Graça Silva (Institute)

The theme opens up new horizons for us Sisters of St. Joseph. Memory, where we are we can re-read the past. On Mysticism, in the light of the Word, I was asked the question: What value do I give to the personal and community mystical dimension XX? Prophecy, giving our witness as Sisters of St. Joseph, being able to announce and denounce situations that take away the dignity of the people. The most important thing for me was the pilgrimage to Canindé to the Shrine, for Francis' witness of humility and care for our common home. I would highlight the themes of Hope from the verb Esperançar, knowing how to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and not letting suffering overshadow our desire to be artisans of personal, community, and congregational hope.

Sr. Maria Luzinete dos Santos (Institute)

"The Congress was one of celebration and thanksgiving for the history of the CRB itself in its 70 years and my 25 years of consecrated life. I would highlight the presentation of so many projects that generate life and care, especially in the existential peripheries, where life is threatened. I also emphasize the theme of hope. Sister Zulmira said that the VRC is called to be a sentinel of eternal life, to be a living memory of the Risen Jesus, to make visible the primacy of God's promises, to glimpse eternity in history, the full victory of life over death. 

Sr. Rosane Stefennon (Chambery)

The celebration of the 70th anniversary of the CRB is a trajectory marked by significant changes in the positioning of religious life, the Church, and society. We are all CRB. I was deeply moved by the celebration of the martyrs of the journey, my causes are more important than my own life. I would highlight the theme of prophecy - the witness of religious life in different contexts, in fidelity to the call, taking a stand in defense of life, especially women's religious life.

Sr. Joana Francisca Rége de Sousa  (Chambery)

It's the experience of communion with everyone in the CRB. We can name it as a commitment to life. The most important thing was meeting people, reuniting, hugging. From the content, I would highlight hope as a journey, a search, strength, and encouragement.