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Sisters of Charity

of our Lady Mother of Mercy

History of Brazil

Our History in Brazil

The mission of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of Mercy flourished on Brazilian soil in 1962, when the first sisters from the Netherlands arrived in the northeast of the country. These were turbulent times: Brazil was living under a military dictatorship, and poverty was severely affecting the people.

Even in the face of these challenges, the sisters stood alongside those who needed them most. They worked in hospitals in Campina Grande and Santa Rita, provided other health services, worked in education, and served local communities—bringing care, hope, and a merciful presence.

Choice for the Poor: New Directions in Mission

In the 1970s, inspired by the Gospel and the renewal of the Church, the Sisters of Charity undertook a missionary shift: they left the large convents and began to live in small communities among the poor. This choice was deeply consistent with the charism of mercy and the option for the most vulnerable.

Since then, their work has grown stronger in areas essential to life and social justice:

  • Support for mothers and children

  • Early childhood education and comprehensive training

  • Dom Hélder Câmara Foundation: after-school care for children and adolescents

  • Work in basic ecclesial communities

  • Active presence in social ministries: Pastoral Care of Children and Pastoral Care of Minors

The sisters are accompanied by many hands and many hearts: a wide circle of lay associates participates in and supports this mission. In 2018, eleven lay people officially joined the Association, reinforcing its spirituality and commitment to the poorest.

Growth in Communion and Diversity

Along the way, the Congregation in Brazil joined forces with communities in the United States and the Philippines, forming a lively, fraternal International Province marked by cultural and spiritual diversity.

This experience of communion has opened new horizons of collaboration, respect for differences, and collegiality.

New Organization, Renewed Mission

On December 1, 2023, the International Province was established, with a Council composed of three sisters who represent the international richness of the Congregation:

History Brazil

  • Sr. Paula Frassinetti (Brazil) — Provincial

  • Sr. Mary Ellen Ryley (United States) — Vice-Provincial

  • Sr. Josephine Corpuz (Philippines) — Councilor

A leadership that integrates cultures, strengthens bonds, and reaffirms the mission of putting mercy into action.

A Presence that Transforms

Today, the Sisters of Charity continue to sow life where hope is challenged.
Their history in Brazil is marked by courage, faith, and merciful love that does not settle:

We walk with the people so that all may have life in abundance.

And this mission continues steadfastly—sustained by God's grace and the conviction that mercy is a transforming force in history.

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