Two Brazilian sisters profess final vows

In a very impressive ceremony on St. Joseph’s Day Saturday, Sisters Maria Alexsandra da Silva and Maria Fortunata Gomes de Oliveira  pronounced perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The parish of St Francis of Assisi in Picos, Brazil, has been a hub of activity preparing for this celebration.  Leadership was provided by  the sisters living in the parish, Sisters Nair de Sousa and Janira Lindoso Diniz. Sister Joseleide da Silva, who had lived in Picos these last few years and returned to help, and the family of Sister Alexsandra, who live in the parish, formed teams to coordinate the activity.

When the bus and vans arrived, the reception team received the guests and housed them with various families of friends and parishioners where they shared dinner and rested until the evening Mass.  A bus chartered from Teresina brought sisters, friends, pastor and parishioners from the parishes where Sister Alexsandra and other sisters live and work.  Friends from Graça Aranha, Maranhao, where Sister Fortunata lives and works, had arrived the day before and continued the journey to Picos  on the chartered bus as well as a sister and nephew of Sister Fortunata.  Religious from the Diocese of Picos as well as religious from São Domingos and São Luis- Maranhão were also present.

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In the evening, everyone gathered at the parish church where they were joined by Bishop José Plinio of Picos; Father Flavio, pastor of the parish; Father Tiago, Redemptorist , representing the São José Operáio Parish where the Sisters of St. Joseph have their regional house in Teresina; and Father Antonio Barbosa, pastor of the Parish of Planalto Uraguai where the sisters have their initial formation house in Teresina.

The ceremony began with Sister Luciene Maria de Carvalho, commentator for the ceremony,  inviting all to participate in the singing of the hymn to St. Joseph while  the sisters  paid homage to their patron.  The sisters formed a guard of honor in the center aisle of the church where the postulants and aspirant of the congregation  entered carrying  a statue of St. Joseph.  Sisters Alexsandra, Fortunata and Donna Otter followed the youth and after receiving the image from them and presenting it to the assembly  placed it on its place of honor for the ceremony.

Youth from the St. Francis Parish led the music and all joyfully accompanied the singing.  Bishop Plinio spoke vividly of  St. Joseph´s life during his homily and challenged us to “sleep” as St. Joseph did before acting.  In other words, he spoke of the necessity of discernment in order to make wholesome decisions for the good of all.  Joseph at first thought only of himself but after thinking and listening, he took into consideration his loved one and the child she bore.

After pronouncing their final vows, Sisters Alexsandra and Fortunata received, with a renewed blessing, the symbols of the congregation, the ring and crucifix, from Sister Donna, the Mission Coordinator.

After the Eucharistic celebration, all were invited share supper. To God we give the glory, and to all we thank for making this day so memorable.