Diocesan Vocation Congress – Caxias do Sul

With it in mind and attention to the V Brazilian Vocational Congress, which came from 4 to 6 September 2026 at the Santuario Nazionale di Aparecida – a San Paolo, with the theme and the motto:

"Comunità Vocazionali: encounter, testimony and mission"

"I persevered and continued to live in my home" (Atti 2,46)

The Vocational Pastoral of the Diocese of Caxias do Sul/RS, through the Vocational Animation Service (SAV) team, held the “Diocesan Vocational Congress” on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Caxias do Sul, at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Diocesan Seminary. This meeting aimed to provide a space for in-depth study and reflection on the basic text.

Representing the SAV of the Brazilian Province of the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd – Little Shepherdesses – were Sisters Adriana Cortelini and Ilda Conte, and also the Pauline Cooperator Graziela Andrade.

Participants arrived and were joyfully welcomed by the SAV team. Among those present were priests, members of congregations of consecrated religious life, students of the diaconal school, seminarians, and lay people.

At 9:00 AM, the diocesan bishop, Dom José Gislon, presided over the Eucharistic Celebration. Nourished spiritually and enveloped by the Light of the Holy Spirit, the program continued with a shared snack in a relaxed fraternal moment. After this time, the group was led to the auditorium and for about an hour and a half was assisted by Fr. Marcio Lavratti (Coordinator of SAV South 3), who highlighted relevant topics on Vocational Communities – Encounter, witness and mission.

A break followed for a delicious lunch, integrative conversation and plenty of enthusiasm. With the resumption of activities and guided by the activity "Conversation in the Spirit," eight sharing groups were formed with the objective of collaborating with suggestions for alternatives and actions to be presented in plenary at the Regional Congress, which will take place on May 4th and 5th in São Leopoldo/RS. After the sharing sessions concluded, we returned to the auditorium and the summary from each group was read and delivered to the event's organizing committee.

As the day drew to a close, in the Seminary Chapel, Fr. Carlos Wessler, of the Congregation of the Josephites of Murialdo, led the Vigil for Vocations. It was an intense moment, filled with profound spirituality, songs sung by the seminarians, light emanating from the lit candles and rays of sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows, the fragrance of incense, and a pleading prayer for vocations. A truly rich and holy time! We concluded with a snack, photos, and a heartfelt "see you soon!"

Persevering in following the next steps of the Congress, we reaffirm our determination to remain active and enthusiastic in the vocational mission.

sr Ilda Conte and sr Adriana Cortelini, sjbp

and Coopetadora Paolina Graziela Andrade.