Sister Maria Lígia 

Sister Maria Lígia                    ND 4852                        PDF Download

Maria Iracema MAYER

Our Lady Aparecida Province, Canoas, RS – Brazil

Date and Place of Birth:            February 04, 1924             Júlio de Castilhos, RS
Date and Place of Profession:  February 11, 1955               Passo Fundo, RS
Date and Place of Death:          September 11, 2022           Recanto Aparecida, Canoas, RS
Date and Place of Burial:          September 12, 2022          Convent Cemetery, Canoas, RS

“I know that goodness and faithfulness
will accompany me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

In the late afternoon of September 11, 2022 Sister Maria Lígia encountered her God. Silent and unnoticed as she had been in life, she took leave of this world to enjoy her eternal reward.

Maria Iracema, the oldest of the eight children of Adão Mayer and Leopoldina Laura Zäng was born on February 4, 1924. As the daughter of farmers, she grew up in the countryside in Júlio de Castilhos. At the age of 28, she recognized the call to religious life, and applied for admission to the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Passo Fundo. Upon entering the Novitiate on February 12, 1953, she received the religious name of Sister Maria Lígia, a name she kept until the end of her life.

After completing her novitiate formation, Sister Maria Lígia began her ministry in hospitals. Although she had little academic education, her natural talent for caring for people, especially the sick, enabled her to serve in the nursing department in various hospitals. With gratitude and joy, Sister loved to share her experiences from the time she worked in the maternity ward, where she received into her hands so many new lives as they came into the world.

After 33 years as a nurse, Sister Maria Lígia moved to non-hospital communities. From then on, she dedicated herself to community services, as well as to various pastoral ministries such as visiting families and the sick, caring for the elderly and other acts of service. In her free time, she occupied herself knitting clothes for the poor.

As she grew older and her physical strength diminished, Sister Maria Lígia required special care. Therefore in 2014, Sister moved to Recanto Aparecida, Canoas where she lived until her final transfer to her heavenly home.

In community, Sister Maria Lígia was a simple, silent and prayerful presence. As long as she could, she was present for community prayers. Many times, she was alone with her Lord, either in the chapel or in her room. She loved to receive a friendly hug as well as a visit from family members. During her illness and old age, she was resigned and gratefully accepted whatever services offered to her. Throughout her 98 years of life and her 67 years as a Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Maria Lígia´s silence, her life of prayer, her love for Mother Mary, her selfless work, and hours of solitude led her to the contemplation of eternal truths.

May the Lord grant her eternal rest.