Between October 2025 and January 2026, Sisters Maria Teresa Cuervo and Maggie D’Costa will make the visit of the General Team to various countries of the Province of Vedrun America.
This is the fourth chronicle of their visit, between November 24, 2025 and January 2, 2026, during which they shared with the communities of Campinas, Carnaubeira, Belo Horizonte and Maringá (Guadeloupe, Santa Cruz-la Chácara and Mato Grosso).
Campinas
We arrived in Brazil after a long trip from Argentina, and this was the first community we visited. Here is the Formation House of Vedrun America, and the sisters and novices welcomed us with great joy.
There is much to emphasize about the dynamics of the novitiate here, but we especially highlight the inter-congregational courses and the fact that the formation of the novices is carried out according to the reality of the province. For example, since at the moment there are no sisters from all the different countries of Vedrun America to enrich the formation community, the novitiate goes out to the countries of the continent. That is to say, with the contribution of several sisters from different countries and some lay people, the novices receive different courses, which at the same time are taken up by the community to complement, deepen and concretize what the course asks for.
The night before our departure, we were invited to participate in an online meeting in which all the novice formators, both our sisters and some lay people were present. There was much appreciation for their involvement and contribution through the various topics discussed. It was a moment of gratitude to the whole Province for accompanying them on this journey.
The Vedruna Social Center is also located in this community. It is a space for underprivileged youth of the neighborhood, where they have artistic and creative activities to interact with each other, as well as social and psychological support from teachers, including some of our sisters.
During our stay, we were able to see how the Vedruna presence is very much appreciated in the neighborhood, especially at the Eucharist which we attended two days at St. Monica’s Parish in two days.
Carnaubeira da Penha
Here we shared the Eucharist and lunch. The small chapel was almost full and together we began the Advent Season. The simple faith of the community and their participation was inspiring.
We also shared some time with Msg. Gabriele Marchesi, Bishop of Floresta and a good friend of our family, inviting him to have breakfast at home with us. In spite of all the difficulties in his diocese, he is very positive and good-humored, always encouraging our sisters, he values Religious Life and his priests, he has plans and dreams to fulfill!
Although there is already a Vedruna community in Salgueiro, a good group of Vedruna laity continue to meet there with this community. On Sunday, November 30, they spent practically the whole day with us, sharing breakfast, a prayer, lunch and relaxed moments of singing and dancing. They brought a lot of life and joy. Their love and enthusiasm for Joaquina was evident in what they shared and in their plans to strengthen the charism, as well as trying to invite others to share this gift.
Belo Horizonte
Remembering St. Francis Xavier on December 3, we traveled to Belo Horizonte to visit the three sisters present there. With how much joy they welcomed us and to the end expressed their gratitude for our visit!
In the days we spent together, in addition to our meetings, we had long after-dinner conversations to share, remember stories of the past and catch up with each other. We highlighted her work in faith and politics, work with street dwellers and contribution to the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB).
It was admirable to see how the three of them, with each other’s help, manage the kitchen, shopping and other community tasks. They are aware of their limitations and yet they are open to see what the future holds for them. We enjoyed their fruitful reflections in prayer and during our community meetings.
Maringá
We traveled on December 8 to Maringá and stayed there until December 28, distributing our days among the three communities in the area: Guadalupe Community, Santa Cruz-Chácara and San Félix Araguaio in Mato Grosso.
Guadalupe
The soil of Maringá was the first to receive the Vedruna presence in Brazil in 1952. The community present here, like others throughout all these years, has gone through several internal and external structural changes. At present it enjoys the presence of sisters, some of whom are well cared for by the caretakers. The others, who are able to fend for themselves according to their possibilities, take care of the community, each one according to her ability. All of them are grateful for all these years lived in the congregation at the service of the Kingdom. In our interactions and reflections during the formal meetings, they showed great attention and interest.
This community, because of its capacity, is also a “Betania” for other Vedruna sisters who come here when there is a need. The sisters are welcoming and friendly to visitors.
On December 9, we had the joy of participating in the celebration in which a juniora renewed her vows. All three communities participated in the evening prayer and the dinner afterwards. It was a reason for joy and an occasion to maintain our hope that the Lord will send more workers to his vineyard.
Our Santa Cruz school has been an outstanding contribution to this place for 70 years. Meeting with Tania, the principal, and the management teams helped us to see its influence in the town and the impact it has had on so many families who have benefited from its quality education, even after the sisters were no longer able to take over the leadership. We currently have one sister who is part of the pastoral team. We applaud the entire staff for their dedication and, above all, for the way they follow Joaquina’s pedagogy in teaching. With their love and creativity they have depicted the façade of Manso Escorial on part of the wall. Each classroom has a phrase of Joaquina written in an attractive way. The preparation for the Bicentennial is an encouragement to continue to know, love and sustain the legacy for which Joaquina and all the sisters here have worked tirelessly.
On December 12 we were in Curitiba for two reasons: to meet with the group of Vedruna Laity and to visit the mother of one of our sisters of the General Team, who has been ill for a long time. The whole family is involved in giving her the maximum care and love that she deserves and needs at this stage of her life. Needless to say that the whole family expressed joy and gratitude for our presence. The Vedruna group here, although the sisters are no longer present, is very enthusiastic and has the desire to remain open to new young members and, at the same time, willing to find other ways to keep the charism alive.
Being in Maringá gave us the opportunity to visit the cemetery and, in this way, express our gratitude to the deceased sisters for their fidelity to the Lord and their service to the people in our Congregation.
Santa Cruz – Chácara
Both Chácara and the community of Santa Cruz form a single community, so we held joint meetings. On both occasions there was a very enriching sharing, opening the heart to face the challenges despite the difficulties. After the reflection and sharing of the second meeting, on the 20th, we were offered a delicious snack.
Santa Cruz-La Casa Central is also a formative community, since a juniora is part of it. The mission of this house is the coordination and governance of Vedruna Brazil, as well as the involvement in our school, popularly known as Santa Cruz School. It is a community of five sisters, each with her own mission. In addition, they accompany the young people in the parish of St. Joaquina de Vedruna. Some also share their time with the older sisters at Guadalupe, which is just across the street.
We were able to participate in some school activities and witnessed how much the sisters are appreciated and respected.
For the first community meeting, all the sisters of Chácara were present, since they belong to the same community. There we also celebrated Christmas together after the Eucharist in the Cathedral. These meetings bring them together and increase their desire to meet beyond the formal meetings.
During the visit to this community, we also shared some time with a group of Vedruna laity, who still keep the spark of the Charism and wish to keep it alive, looking for ways to do so, especially by connecting with other lay communities.
La Chácara
Although we stayed in Guadeloupe, we were able to share valuable time with the four sisters of the community.
The location of the community house in Chácara is very welcoming because of its natural beauty and tranquility. We started the day by participating in morning prayer with them and then continued with the rest of the day in informal conversations, contact with nature and sharing spaces.
The sisters are slowly trying to discover ways to insert themselves into the local pastoral ministry. The nearest church is still under construction, but in the meantime, the sisters are involved in the nearest Christian communities.
Mato Grosso
Our family has been officially present here since 2019.
The dynamics of the pastoral work in this area was known by the vision of Bishop Pedro Casaldáliga, based on the integration of mixed communities, formed by priests, religious and lay people, dedicated to the promotion and empowerment of the indigenous peoples and in favor of those whose lands have been taken away from them.
Today, the dynamics are different. The sisters accompany the indigenous people by supporting advocacy projects, empowerment on awareness and rights and defense of their lands.
This past year, the sisters have had many activities such as the march of indigenous women in Brasilia, the national assembly of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) in Brasilia, the meeting of indigenous people from different regions, and the COP 30, as well as participation in the activities of the Religious Life.
In addition, they constantly work with the formation of catechists and animators of the communities, in Biblical Formation throughout the Prelature. This includes the challenge of traveling long distances on bad roads, using public transportation.
Brazilian Assembly
A total of 35 sisters participated in this Assembly. Sister Marita Garces, a member of the provincial team of Vedrun America, was present.
In this meeting we talked about:
- Synodality and shared leadership, a theme prepared by the General Team
- The opening of the Bicentennial in Brazil.
- Current moment in the mission life of each community
- Contributions to the discernment that the province is making on the presences and works.
- Presentation of accounts, CIE’s strategic plan and the country’s strategic plan
- The 50 and 25 years of religious life of two sisters
- New Year’s Celebration
Regarding the resonances, after working as a team, we concluded that:
- We believe in the strength of youth, in the empowerment of women and we are confirmed in the option for the poor.
- We feel called to grow together in relationships filled with a positive outlook.
- We appreciate and celebrate the Congregation’s commitment to shared leadership, recognizing that synodality has been present in our charism from the beginning.
- Deepening our understanding of synodality, taking into account the contributions of the Charism, the Word of God and Being Born Again, serves as a guide and allows us to feel how the strength of our call unites us and impels us to walk together with enthusiasm and hope.
It has caught our attention…
- The sisters, in spite of their frailties, continue with vitality in their pastoral projects, together with the people.
- The formation community of the Province has been expanding with the incorporation of sisters from different countries via zoom. This brings a diversity of people and topics to the novices, and is a new development within the structure of the Novitiate.
- The Santa Cruz School and the Vedruna Center live the spirit of Joaquina’s educational charism and vibrate with the theme of the Bicentennial.
- The Bicentennial, in all the places visited, has been a constant of movement, integration and joy; it has strengthened the sense of belonging, created bonds and multiplied creativity.
- The laity, even though in some places they do not have the physical presence of the sisters, continue to go ahead with courage as far as possible and also with the desire to work so that new paths may sprout, keeping their hearts open to young people.
- Liturgical celebrations are lived with great community participation, gathering many people around the altar: lectors, deacons, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, people in charge of the tithe….
- The Christmas novena is divided: it begins in November and ends the first week of December. We were also surprised that the Baby Jesus is placed in the manger before December 25; in some places he is there since November.
- The customs of the indigenous people of the Iny Community: this name means “son of the waters”. This community has a ritual for the girls once they have their first menstruation: from their long hair, they cut a lock at the crown of their head in such a way that it looks like a small crest. This indicates that they can already be mothers. For this moment they go to a separate room, prepared for this purpose, where the grandmother and the mother talk about what it means to be a woman capable of generating life, to be a mother, a wife, etc. The mother, 40 days after the birth of the child, paints herself with plant dyes, makes herself very pretty and there is a party with the participation of the entire indigenous community. In addition to the dance, food is shared. The celebration of the baby consists of placing it in a mat, made by the woman who has authority in the tribe, because she has an exemplary life and knows how to reach each one in the best way. They smear it with oil, then paint it with red and black dyes, extracted from two XXX plants and finally put honey in its mouth, which symbolizes protection, belonging and life.
