BRAZILIAN PROVINCE HOLDS ASSEMBLY - DAY 1

PILGRIMS OF HOPE

            Curitiba, May 3, 2025 – Over 100 Sisters of St. Joseph from all over Brazil gathered to participate in the first Assembly of the Brazilian Province. The greetings, smiles, and gestures of welcome already reflected the joy of reunion and the opportunity to share dreams, hopes, challenges, and achievements even before the session officially began.

At 8 a.m., the spirituality team invited everyone to pray with the memory of the first six Sisters of St. Joseph, highlighting their qualities, courage, and boldness—virtues that continue to inspire and energize the path of following Jesus Christ, our teacher and Lord. Following that, our Provincial Superior, Sr. Maria da Consolação Rocha Coelho, opened the assembly with a speech emphasizing the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope building Communion.” She underlined that hope drives us to look toward the horizon of new perspectives and opportunities.

Then, the assembly’s guide, Sr. Zuleica Silvano of the Pauline Sisters, theologian and biblical scholar, worked on the theme in the light of the Word of God, the Jubilee of Hope, our congregational Charism, and the path of synodality.

HOPE IS THE VERY TRINITY

            Sr. Zuleica structured the reflection into three parts: being a pilgrim, hope, and building unity. Without delay and using clear and accessible language, she began by explaining what it means to be a pilgrim today, bringing to mind the life journeys of Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and our patron saint.

 The morning reflection was essential for deepening the understanding of hope. She explained that the Jubilee of Hope speaks of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ in the light of Hope. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the center of this hope. In her words, it became clear: Hope is the very Trinity. Quoting various texts from the Old and New Testaments, she helped the participants recognize the signs of a God who becomes a pilgrim Himself, pointing to horizons of hope and possibility. She highlighted the importance of walking together in fraternal communities and ecclesial communion, because we are Church. The third part of the theme, building unity, was approached through the lens of synodality.

BEING A SIGN OF RESURRECTION

            The assembly was invited to contemplate especially the Gospel passage from John 20, which speaks about those who sought signs of the resurrection: the Beloved Disciple, Mary Magdalene, and Peter. These three characters challenge us to go beyond the signs, to change our mindset, and to understand—through the cross—the manifestation of a God who loves. They teach us the need to read the signs, to live without signs, and to be a sign of resurrection.

It was an intense day, and the questions that emerged from each element of the reflection were thought-provoking. They will certainly help the sisters to continue studying, reflecting, and praying so that they may truly live as “pilgrims of hope, building unity.”

            Before a well-deserved rest, the sisters enjoyed a joyful recreation moment, which was very relaxed and helped strengthen their bonds even further.

Sr. Ieda Maria Tomazini

Irmã Vilma de Oliveira

Somos peregrinas da Esperança. Foi uma assembleia cheia de sinais de vida entre nós, olhamos também e rezamos com os pontos que precisamos melhorar. Gratidão por toda vida que somos capazes de gerar, cada Irmã doando um pouco de si a serviço da missão.