From the 15th to the 27th of June 2025, the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Brazil experienced a profound season of grace and communion during the Canonical Visit of Mother General Sandra Maggiolo and the members of the General Council. This spiritually rich pilgrimage led them through Canossian communities spread across the vast and vibrant lands of Brazil: Campinas (SP), Piabetá-Magé (RJ), Almenara (MG), Joinville (SC), Araras (SP), and Imperatriz (MA).
From the very moment of arrival at the provincial house in Campinas, there was a palpable sense of joyful anticipation and heartfelt gratitude. Each stop along the way became a sacred encounter — marked by fraternal gatherings, shared prayer, attentive listening, and moments of deep spirituality. Sisters, priests, bishops, and local communities came together in a spirit of unity and devotion.The presence of the Mother General and her Councillors — Mothers Josemary Keelath, Albertina Luiz dos Santos, Marianna Herminia Litmanovich, and Melissa Therese Dwyer — served as a tender and tangible sign of nearness and motherly care, offered with simplicity, attentiveness, and open hearts.
Everywhere, the warm and generous welcome extended by the people bore witness to the deep affection and esteem for the Canossian charism — a charism daily embodied by so many sisters who, often in silence and far from public view, draw close to the poorest and most vulnerable. This Canonical Visit rekindled in all the awareness of a vocation that remains fruitful, bold, and deeply relevant.
In the footsteps of Saint Magdalene of Canossa, the Daughters of Charity in Brazil continue to pour out life and hope, impelled by a burning passion for Christ Crucified and for their brothers and sisters. “Women of the Word, who love without measure”: this ideal was renewed in every gaze, every gesture, every whispered prayer during the visit. Moments of reflection emerged naturally — on the future, on education, on evangelisation, and on the mission to the existential peripheries.
A Land that Speaks of God
Brazil — with its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity — provided the natural backdrop for this pilgrimage of faith and fraternity. From the lush mountains of Minas Gerais to the mighty rivers of Maranhão, from the Atlantic shores of Rio de Janeiro to the tropical forests of the South, each place proclaimed the splendour of Creation and the presence of a God who reveals Himself in life, in nature, and in the face of the other.
Life flows here with intensity and warmth, within communities marked by a vibrant, welcoming culture — rich in popular spirituality and a deep-rooted sense of solidarity. In such fertile soil, the Canossian charism finds a home: to grow, to sow hope, to become a prophetic voice amid social, cultural, and spiritual challenges.
A Gratitude That Becomes Prayer
As the visit drew to a close, what remained was a deep sense of gratitude — to the Mother General and her Councillors, for their quiet strength, their attentive presence, and their call to journey forward with renewed missionary fervour. The fruits of these days of grace continue to blossom, nourishing consecrated life and strengthening the shared commitment to serve the poorest with courage and love.
In an age when hope can so often seem overshadowed by the trials of our world, the Canonical Visit to Brazil stood as a radiant sign: that fidelity to the Gospel still gives birth to light, to fraternity, to meaning. With eyes turned toward the future, hearts remain anchored in the unshakable truth that “the love of Christ urges us on” — now more than ever.
