The community of Casa Santa Joaquina de León celebrated the 75th anniversary of Isabel Raposo’s religious life.
The Diamond Jubilee was joined from afar by numerous sisters from other places, especially Colombia, where Isabel Raposo arrived in 1974 and where she remained for 42 years, working mainly with women, girls and children. She had previously spent 12 years in Venezuela carrying out similar activities.
In 2017, during a visit to her family, in Benavides de Órbigo (León), Isabel had a fall and, due to medical prescription, could not return to her community El Consuelo, in Bogotá. Colombia – she has insistently repeated since then – is always in her heart.
“We know how dedicated your life has been,” said one of the congratulatory messages from Colombia.
“In what a way you conquered all the ladies, who love you, and all the sisters, who love you very much and remember you!”.
Congratulations also came from Vitoria, where Isabel Raposo professed her religious vows:
“It is an immense joy,” a sister was telling him from there. “I want to join in your thanksgiving to God. It is a feast for you, for your dear community, and for so many people to whom you did good and sowed in their hearts the desire to better themselves, to learn a trade, to improve their families… And the love for Joaquina de Vedruna, which you also instilled in them. You have been a Vedruna faithful to all, and very missionary, going to the places where your presence was needed in Colombia. Congratulations! Thanks be to God! Thank you for everything!”
The Eucharist of thanksgiving was the occasion for the renewal of the religious profession of Isabel and the rest of the sisters of the community, in which, invoking the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Joaquina de Vedruna, the sisters renewed their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, reaffirming their consecration to God and their commitment to serve in education, health and help to the most needy for the glory of God and the edification of his Kingdom.
Isabel Raposo’s renewal of vows could be heard with joyful spirit and a strong voice, despite her physical vulnerability.
There were still some surprises in the celebration. The most outstanding was the blessing of Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee, sent by the Vedruna General Team from Rome.
A poem of thanks (below) and an anniversary cake continued to bring the community together for this celebration.
Isabel Raposo (in her 75th year of Religious Life)
Seventy-five years of true love,
of silent faith, of sincere service.
Your life, seed in fertile soil,
Colombia was a footprint, and the world floods you.
Isabel with a serene smile and firm gait,
with hands of peace and soul of altar.
Courageous nun, witness of light,
that leads us all a little bit to Jesus.
Thank you, therefore, for your vocation,
for being a reflection of compassion.
Today we celebrate you with gratitude and honor,
consecrated woman, sower of love.
This news was originally shared on the website of the Vedruna Province of Europe.
