Jubilee 2022
Sister Maria de Lourdes de Deus Pimentel
Sister Maria de Lourdes de Deus Pimentel, CSC
Celebrating Her Silver Jubilee
Sister Maria de Lourdes de Deus Pimentel was born in Entre Rios, Bahia, Brazil. She has four brothers and three sisters. A brother passed away in 2021. I am very proud of my family for being a united family and joyful,” she says. “My parents taught us that the best gift they could give us was affection, respect, honesty and love. I believe that these values express who I am. I am in love with my family.”
About Her Ministry
Sister Maria made her initial profession of vows on February 2, 1997, and her perpetual profession on January 13, 2002. Before entering the Congregation, she was a pastoral agent for her parish.
After entering the Congregation and while attending university, Sister Maria continued to serve her parish, ministering to youth groups, training catechists, directing the formation of lay people, and leading reflection groups for women and youth. From 2005 to 2012, she took on a new ministry in the city of Janaúba, Minas Gerais, helping to organize social promotion plans, while also assisting the Santo Afonso de Ligório Parish.
From 2014 to 2016, she took responsibility for the social service aspect of the Instituto das Irmãs da Santa Cruz. She also started working with a group called Pastoral da Mulher Marginalizada, part of the social pastoral sector of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil. With this group, she accompanies women in situations of prostitution and social vulnerability. Sister Maria also assists with vocation activities for the Congregation and serves on the board of directors of Rede Rua, an organization that assists people living on the streets.
Since 2019, Sister Maria has served as the Congregation’s candidate director in Brazil.
Getting to Know Her
Education
Social Work, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo
Favorite activities
My favorite activities are dancing, walking, playing, cooking and building new realities.
Favorite time of ministry
Every moment in ministry is of great importance because it is always a construction of relationship, trust, sharing of knowledge. At the moment, I am involved in the following ministries: pastoral care for women in vulnerability, homeless people and vocation ministry. In the women's ministry, I develop moments of reflection, listening and orientation according to the situation. With the homeless population, I help in the distribution of food. In the vocation ministry, I carry out visits, meetings and help in the discernment process.
My most memorable time
I have a passion for everything I do for the good of the people. I really like the ministry with young people in vocation promotion.
All the dioceses in which I had the opportunity to exercise my ministry were significant in my life. More, I want to highlight the Diocese of Janauba–Minas Gerais. It was nine years of experience and sharing with a very hospitable people and of a deep religiosity and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus. It was nine years of community and fraternal experience together with families and leaders, teaching and learning the feeling of synodality, of the deep and true Gospel of Christ. I had the opportunity to accompany and guide several pastorals, such as youth ministry, catechesis, liturgy, groups of elderly people. All these pastorals touched my heart, as they touch the hearts of every leader. I am grateful to God for this prophetic experience.
Favorite songs
I really like country music.
- João Paulo and Daniel – Face Wet
- Zezé Di Camargo and Luciano – The Day I Left Home
- Chitãozinho and Xororó – Nascemos Pra Cantar
- Daniela Mercury – Cheiro De Amor – Vai Sacudir, Vai Abalar
- Roberto Carlos – Todas as Nossas Senhoras
- Leandro and Leonardo – Rumo á Goiânia
- Also: Jorge Trevisol – Certain Things to Say