On the afternoon of May 1, 2025, the Parish Hall of the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Salgueiro (Pernambuco), was the scene of a moment of deep emotion, memory and gratitude: the Meeting of Vedruna Generations.
The event brought together lay men and women who lived, lived together and worked with the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna over the years, in various pastoral, social and educational actions carried out in the city of Salgueiro.
It was an afternoon marked by moving testimonies, in which many recounted how the presence of the sisters and the charism of St. Joaquina de Vedruna deeply impacted their lives, whether in faith, in service to the community or in social transformation.
Alicia Inés Zanichelli Lione (Provincial of Vedrun-Amérioca), Clara Schlinckmann (Delegate of Brazil), Margarida Franz, Sr. Maria Lopez, Terezinha Castilhos.
During the testimonies, other sisters who lived and worked in Salgueiro throughout the last decades and who left deep traces in the life of the community were remembered with affection. Their stories and services were mentioned with emotion, revealing the eternal gratitude of the people of Salgueiro.
Each story was a true seed of gratitude sown in the hearts of the sisters present, who were able to perceive, in each word, how much their mission left fruits in the fertile soil of Salgueiro. More than memories, they were living testimonies of a charism that continues to resonate in the lives of many people.
This meeting also strengthened the bonds of the Vedruna Family, formed by sisters, lay people and sympathizers of the charism, united by the mission to serve with tenderness, courage and compassion, as St. Joaquina taught us.
The presence of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna in Salgueiro, Pernambuco, is part of a long trajectory of mission, service and evangelization that began in Brazil in the 20th century. The congregation, founded by Saint Joaquina de Vedruna in Spain, has as its charisma the care of the most needy, especially in the areas of education, health and social promotion, always united to the spirit of prayer and community life.
The Vedruna Sisters arrived in Salgueiro in response to a missionary call, especially directed to the “sertón” (semi-arid zone) northeastern desert, where the population was facing social, economic and spiritual difficulties. Since their arrival, the sisters became deeply integrated into the life of the people of Salgueiro, offering a supportive, discreet but significant presence.
The work of the Vedruna Sisters in Salgueiro left deep traces in the community. Many people gratefully testify to the impact of his presence in their lives, whether through education, faith or the simple witness of a dedicated life.
The Vedruna mission in the sertón (semi-arid zone) is a concrete example of the Gospel lived with simplicity, courage and love. Even today, even with the challenges of change and the scarcity of vocations, the spirit of St. Joaquina continues to be present where there are sisters, lay men and women who lovingly assume the Vedruna mission.
Alvaro Rocha, Pastoral Juvenil Brazil
