Promise of the Pauline Cooperators in Conceição do Tocantins/TO

“Apostolate well done, in the apostolic spirit, is similar to the preaching of Jesus. We are co-workers in his apostolate (his mission) in the world.”

(Blessed James Alberione)

In the small town of Conceição do Tocantins/TO, this past Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the votive Mass for Blessed Fr. Tiago Alberione, 12 new members were admitted to the Pauline Family, making the Promise as Pauline Cooperators, at the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Main Church, in the presence of Sister Suzimara Barbosa de Almeida, sjbp and the parish priest Fr. Rafael Ferreira da Rocha.

After completing the training period, as well as the retreat for strengthening and discernment, the candidates formalized their application to join the Association of Pauline Cooperators: Apoliana Bispo de Souza, Dolores Francisco dos Santos, Domingas Firmino Pereira Rocha, Elismar Batista Ferreira, Elziene Cardoso dos Santos, Fábio Divino Pereira Teles, Joaquina Cursino Guedes (Neném), Maísa Costa dos Santos Guedes, Mirtis Ferreira de Moura, Regilene Carlos Bispo, Plácida Tolentino de Deus, Vilma Francisco Ribeiro. A diverse group, from teachers to those less educated, but all full of life and faith, ranging in age from the oldest, 85, to the youngest, 27.

Among the 12 new members, one candidate was monitored from a distance. A daughter of this land, she moved to Goiânia, but her passion for the Pauline Family kept her desire to be a Pauline Cooperator alive. Another, with Down Syndrome, has been a regular participant in the meetings since 2007, alongside her 81-year-old grandmother. Now, at the age of 33, together with her family, she has publicly assumed the mission of being a Pauline Cooperator, being warmly applauded by the community present. Two others began the journey in 2004, when the group was just starting out, took formative steps and after a long time were able to resume the journey; the others entered from 2017 to 2020, following the path in person and remotely. The beautiful thing is to see God's grace happen in each person's life with Pauline spirituality and color. According to the Statutes of this Association, Article 12, §1 “For the Pauline Cooperator, the meaning and objective of the Promise is to express the desire to live one’s baptismal vocation according to the Pauline charism, committing oneself in the world to bear witness, with life and word, to the Gospel that he proclaims.”

Sister Suzimara introduced the candidates to the community: “These lay Cooperators, having felt in their hearts the same charism of Blessed Alberione, through the Pastorinhas Sisters who lived in Conceição, want to add to their lay vocation the promise of being a sign of the Pauline Family in the Church, communicating Jesus in person to people, as Jesus the Good Shepherd did.” After making the Promise, the priest exhorted the group to remain in the grace they had received, reminding them that this grace does not make anyone greater or better than the other brothers who are not Cooperators, but rather makes each Cooperator a servant of Jesus’ Project. Living the grace of state better, being in a state of grace. At Holy Mass, all the Cooperators renewed their Promise. It is worth mentioning that even though they are a group far from the headquarters in Caxias, they have remained firm without the physical presence of the Little Shepherd Sisters since mid-2018. They receive online support and an Annual Retreat, when the presence of a Little Shepherd Sister, every year, moves not only the Cooperators, but the entire city that thus embraces all those who have marked the history of a people here.

 Pauline Cooperators of Conceição do Tocantins/TO

Testimonies:

“What a joy it is to fulfill the Promise! I started on this path in 2004/2008, and after a few years I stopped attending the meetings, so in 2014 I didn’t make the promise with the first group. I returned to the meetings in 2015, and now, at 85 years old, I have the grace of officially receiving the name of Cooperator and no longer a candidate.”

(Joaquina Cursino Guedes – Conceição do Tocantins)

“Grace and peace, brothers! Today I want to share something that has transformed my life: the process of Christ being formed in me. It was in the midst of difficulties that I began to understand what the apostle Paul meant in Galatians 4:19, when he writes: “My little children, with whom I am again in labor pains until Christ is formed in you.” This formation does not happen overnight. It is a painful, ongoing, but glorious process. Ever since I began my formation to become a Pauline Cooperator, I understood that Christ began and continues to be formed in me; I began to die to myself, to my pride, to my selfish desires, to my desire to always be in control. And that each time I broke down before Him, I felt more of His presence filling me. Today, I am not perfect; I am still under construction. But I can testify that Christ has molded me with His hands. He has transformed my heart, my mind, my attitudes. What was once just religion is now a relationship. What was once appearance is now truth. The experience of the promise is a unique moment; only those who live it will understand and comprehend it. My daily prayer is: “Lord, continue Your work in me, until Christ is fully formed in me.” Come and Follow Me. During these years of preparation for the profession, I felt strongly the call of Christ the Shepherd, come and Follow Me. I was always asking myself, why me? And little by little, I began to understand and comprehend that proclaiming Jesus in the environments in which I am inserted is a mission/calling. I made a commitment: to continue evangelizing. This is my calling, this is my vocation. During the retreat, I was able to confirm this calling even more. Here I am, Lord, make my life an instrument of your evangelization. Being a Pauline Cooperator is cooperating in the mission. Jesus Christ, help me to be faithful. Saint Paul, the apostle and Blessed James Alberione, intercede for each one of us and help us to be faithful like the Blessed Virgin Mary.

(Maísa Costa dos Santos Guedes – Goiânia/GO)

“May the Divine Holy Spirit enlighten me with this blessing of being a Pauline Cooperator, increasing my faith. How good it is to feel God taking care of me. Thank you, Lord!”

(Domingas Firmino Pereira Rocha – Conceição do Tocantins)

“Our meeting was very good, I am only grateful to God for this beautiful work of the Cooperators. I have little reading, but each moment is a great learning experience. We should not be afraid, but have faith.”

(Mirtis Ferreira de Moura – Conceição do Tocantins)

“This meeting and mass renewed my faith. Thank you, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, for calling me to be a Pauline Cooperator.”

(Plácida Tolentino de Deus – Conceição do Tocantins)

“I owe it all to God, to Sister Flora who invited me a few times, and to you in the coordination team who never gave up on believing that I would be a cooperator. We’ll find out if I’m going to be willing now... a step has already been taken... I was very moved to remember how my dear grandmother Chica would give a beautiful shout there... And when they spoke at the altar about the “Telaiada” once again confirming many things... I was amazed to see our Teles family represented there at the altar with generations of Aunt Amélia, Aunt Quinucha, Aunt Neta, cousin Darlene and other nieces and grandchildren serving the Lord Jesus. Participating in the retreat was great, the group moments, the sharing, something truly wonderful, Jesus the Master responding through words and examples of understanding others. It was wonderful to feel the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit through the natural atmosphere... it wouldn’t be a good retreat if there was someone missing that Jesus didn’t want to be there for us... those who were there made our hearts happy and our soul... those who were missing made our prayers for them intensify... Thank you to the Sister and everyone in the organization and the girls at the meal... everything was perfect as God wanted...”

(Fábio Divino Pereira Teles – Conceição do Tocantins)

“I miss it so much and I feel like I want more! These days of retreat were a true blessing—a renewal of strength, grace, and peace. On the first day, when I heard the song “The Hand of the Lord Is Upon Me,” I felt such great peace invade my heart. It was as if God took me in His arms and said, with all His love: “No matter what you are going through, I am here with you.” I felt that it was there, in this place, in this group that I should be. He cleared up my doubts. It was a profound moment that moved me deeply—I almost cried, but I held it in a little... On the second day, every moment was wonderful, but something special happened when we went out to pray alone and the song “Let the Light of Heaven Enter” started playing. I felt Jesus renew me, saying: “Don’t be afraid to follow me, walk in my footsteps.” In the rush of everyday life, we often feel weak and tired, but the Holy Spirit comes and strengthens us. He shows us that God is faithful, that He is always with us — no matter what happens. And I am proof of this! Every day, in my life, in my family, in everything... I see God's care and love. Making the Promise was something beyond my expectations. I felt that I had a huge responsibility and I needed to give more of myself. My heart was happy and I wondered what will happen from now on? Will I be able to respond? And I asked God to give me wisdom, discernment, fear and to always increase my faith. I was invited to join the local coordination team more than two years ago and I am learning a little bit every day. That is why I thank the Lord in everything!

(Apoliana de Souza Bispo – Conceição do Tocantins)