Steps that become memory in the construction of the Province of Brazil

After a long and fruitful journey of reconfiguring the presence of the Shepherdess Sisters in Brazil, it was decided that, starting January 1, 2026, we will form a single Province. Having appointed the new Provincial Government team, formed by Sisters Cristiane Ribeiro, Maria Sueli Berlanga, Ângela Soldera, Rejane Maria Deluchi and Rosilene de Lima, we met from December 8th to 14th in Caxias do Sul/RS, at the Pousada Jesus Bom Pastor – Terceira Légua, with the presence of all members of the current Governments of the Jesus Bom Pastor Province, headquartered in Caxias do Sul (BR CdS), and the Padre Alberione Province, headquartered in São Paulo (BR SP), the Government of the new and single Province of Brazil, the Superior General, Sr. Aminta Sarmiento Puentes, and the General Secretary, Sr. Alicia Fogliati.

The meeting aimed to present the path of the two Provinces and guidelines for the beginning of the Unified Province of Brazil. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception conferred a profound spiritual horizon to this time of transition. In the light of Mary's experience—a woman of listening, welcoming, and fidelity to God's plan—we were invited to set out on a journey, available to the action of the Spirit in history. Mary revealed herself as an icon of what we are called to live as a Province: a history traversed by grace, called to generate life.

“May our steps become memory.” This expression, sung during the Eucharistic Celebration, helped us understand that each step taken—personal, communal, and provincial—is a call to become a living memory of God's faithful love, not as a simple remembrance of the past, but as a presence that sustains today and opens to tomorrow. Sister Aminta also used the image of the river: two currents that, after following their own paths, meet and continue together in a new course. Thus, the BR CdS and BR SP Provinces, with their histories, cultures, and riches..., now converge into a single Brazil Province, integrating trajectories and generating a new, broader, and more fruitful flow.

Every meeting was marked by much sharing, listening, and welcoming. Listening to the realities of the communities, the people, and the apostolic contexts in their various dimensions constituted a true exercise of openness to the Spirit, who speaks through concrete life. Welcoming to care for the life entrusted to us, recognizing it as a gift and a responsibility. In this process, feelings, hopes, and challenges emerged that strengthened the awareness of being an apostolic body, interconnected and co-responsible, not only in Brazil but throughout the world. We are called to walk together, allowing our steps, however fragile, to become a fruitful memory of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the way, the truth, and the life.

The Eucharistic celebration of December 11th brought the image of God who takes by the hand, guides, comforts, and strengthens (Isaiah 41:13). In this spirit, gratitude and recognition were expressed to the sisters who were concluding their term of office, as well as a welcome to those who are continuing in the process of leading the Province of Brazil. The remembrance of the “cambiale”—the pact made by the Founder, Father Alberione, with the Holy Trinity—reaffirmed by the new governing team, strengthened the identity and mission entrusted to them.

We had the opportunity to visit the communities of the older Sisters, which made visible their commitment to communion, built on care, closeness, and sharing of life. Also significant was the meeting between the outgoing governing teams and the one assuming continuity, preparing together for the Assembly in January 2026, as a sign of co-responsibility and continuity of the process.

Participation in the Christmas Cantata, organized by the sisters and local communities at the São Pedro e São Paulo Parish in Terceira Légua, crowned this time with joy and praise. The gathering concluded in a festive atmosphere on Gaudete Sunday, celebrating the joy of awaiting the Savior, of fellowship, and of all that we were able to experience during these two days.

Like a river that follows its course, aware that history continues to be written, we continue on our path, sustained by faith and living memory, hoping that our steps, united, will become a memory of the faithful love of Christ the Good Shepherd acting in history!

Sr. Rosilene de Lima, sjbp