History

Our South American Mission in Brazil originated initially in 1960 from the Church Vatican II Conference when Pope John XXIII made a plea for missionaries to SA. This prophetic vision greatly inspired Mother Columbanus Greene, general superior of the congregation at the time (1958-1969). Her dreams and prayers landed on the rich soil of  the California Region who took it to heart and began praying and inspiring the interest of the sisters. At the 1975 General Chapter it was finally decided that the California Region would give birth to a mission in Brazil. Thirteen sisters volunteered for the mission and three were eventually chosen: Catherine Foley, Margie Buttitta and Maura Clerkin.

 On November 29, 1976 these three pioneer sisters set -off on the mission journey:

Catherine Foley, who served the California Region devotedly and generously as teacher, principal, Archdiocesan Supervisor of Elementary Schools and Regional Superior; Margie Buttitta, a young American born graduate of Louisville High School and grade school teacher; Maura Clerkin, a young pioneer of the Juniorate at Cushendall also a teacher in parish schools.  Each sister carried with her a small wooden cross given at the missioning ceremony recalling in a special way our roots in Turkenstein and to the first giving of crucifixes that sealed the Act of Union.

 The sisters first landed in Brazilia, the capital, where Irish Redemptorist Bishop Dom Jaime Collins was the first in a long list of international and Brazilian missionaries; priests, brothers and religious sisters as well as many lay people; who welcomed and orientated the sisters in the Brazilian culture and language. After a few days in the nearby city of Goiânia the pioneers headed for the interior of the Central West state of Goiás, a 17+ bus journey. Miracema do Norte, a small town that served as the center of the huge Diocese with the same name, was the first real contact with the Brazilian way of life.

 January 19, 1977 the three missionaries again took the 17hr+ bus ride (actually took 24+ because of a breakdown) and then a 3 hr plane ride to Rio de Janeiro for a four month course on Portuguese to prepare them for their new home.  Their ministry was to be administrators of a parish, Barrolândia, one of many with no resident priest in the Diocesan.  Yet after much demands from the local population the sisters also assumed principal ship and teaching in the local school. This unplanned ministry was in many ways the best orientation for learning culture and language! In the years ahead other sisters from California, Ireland and Ghana joined the mission and several other foundations and varied ministries were begun in other cities and states.  In 1987 the Brazilian Mission became a Region of its own.