The Sisters heartily responded to Pope John XXIII’s appeal to religious communities to establish missions in South America and founded the Brazilian mission in 1963.

There are nearly 20 Brazilian Sisters, who work with a vibrant community of CSJ Associates.

The Sisters have three houses in Teresina and three missions in more remote parts of Brazil.

The ministries of the Sisters are focused on the poor and oppressed in keeping with the founding charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Teresina, the capital of Piaui, is the poorest state in Brazil. Located 5 degrees south of the equator, the area experiences essentially two seasons: the wet season and the dry season, each lasting six months. During the drought, temperatures can reach 130 degrees!

The Sisters, like most of the local population, live very simply. They walk many miles, use bicycles or beg rides on trucks. Since their ministry covers a large area, transportation to reach the people they serve is always a creative challenge.

For more information about our mission in Brazil, contact:
Ir. Eleutéria Sousa da Costa
Cx. Postal 204
CEP. 64.001.970-Teresina-Piaui
Or e-mail: leo-saojose@hotmail.com

If you’d like to help support the work of our sisters in Brazil, you can make a donation through a secure server, simply by clicking on the Donate Now button: