Jubilee of Hope of Religious Life – CRB of Vitória/ES

On October 11, 2025, we, sisters Ana Maria Lopes, Amálzia Maria da Soledade Dias, Gabriele Camelo Moraes and Lusineide Cardoso de Melo, joined the Nucleus of the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB), in Vitória/ES, which celebrated its Jubilee of Hope, with a spiritual journey marked by testimony of faith, formation and communion. The chosen place for the celebration was Anchieta, a city that carries the name and living memory of the Apostle of Brazil, Saint Joseph of Anchieta.

We arrived in Anchieta for lunch and immediately afterward enjoyed a time of fraternal fellowship at the free beachfront. Around 2:30 p.m., the group headed to the community of the Carmelite Sisters of Divine Providence, where they were warmly welcomed. The Carmelite Sisters and the Jesuit Fathers were waiting for us. The celebratory and formative moment began, when we were invited to introduce ourselves. Following this, listening to the song "Living Flame," we were encouraged to express, through words or drawings, what it means to Celebrate the Jubilee of Hope. Symbols of pilgrimage were introduced to the assembly, accompanied by prayers: the conch shell—the call and the path; the staff—fidelity and guidance; the stones—Reality and the Test; the sand—time and Surrender; the flame—the Love that never fades; and the Word—the Light of the Path. Thus, we, the participants, immersed ourselves in the life and mission of Saint Joseph of Anchieta, guided by the inspiring words of the Jesuit vocation Alan and Father Álvaro, who shared remarkable aspects of the journey of this great missionary of God.

During the afternoon, the group had the opportunity to reflect on Anchieta's legacy, his dedication to the Brazilian people, and his fundamental role in evangelization and in building bridges between cultures. The training session was an invitation to contemplation and commitment to the mission, especially for the religious men and women who follow in the footsteps of Christ in the lands of Espírito Santo.

At 5:15 p.m., we continued on pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph of Anchieta, in an atmosphere of prayer and gratitude. Immediately afterward, Holy Mass was celebrated, presided over by Father Álvaro Nagromonte, SJ. The celebration was marked by intense spirituality, renewing hope in Christ and strengthening the bonds of consecrated life. After the Mass, the CRB Vitória Nucleus coordinators made a symbolic gesture by presenting two candles: one to the Jesuit religious community and the other to the Carmelite Sisters of Divine Providence. The candles bore the logo: Sentinels of Hope, a sign of light and hope, representing the commitment to the mission and the communion between the charisms that illuminate the journey of consecrated life.

Sr. Gabriele Camelo de Moraes, sjbp