Funchal – Madeira
On August 9, 2026 at the end of the annual retreat, a Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated for the Golden Jubilees (Sister Zita Vasconcelos and Sister Salvina de Sousa) and the Diamond Jubilee (Sister Inocência do Carmo) of Religious Consecration. The Eucharist was presided over by the retreat leader, Father Dário Pedroso, with the participation of the community and the families of the celebrants, in an atmosphere of celebration, praise, and gratitude.
In the homily, the priest connected the Consecrated Life with the baptismal consecration of every Christian, also emphasizing the importance of family prayer. He evoked the example of the founder, Saint Marie Rivier, a bold woman of great faith and zeal. Celebrating 50 and 60 years of Consecration is to recognize a renewed “yes” every day, certainly marked by challenges but also by many joys, always with the certainty that “He who called them is faithful.”
After the Eucharist, a lunch followed where the families of the honorees and the sisters participating in the retreat got together in an atmosphere of joy, sharing, and fraternity. It was a beautiful way to continue giving thanks for these 50 and 60 years of consecrated life.