Sister Lourdes Maria

Sister Lourdes Maria                      ND 5372                          PDF Download

Lourdes MARIOTTO

Nossa Senhora Aparecida Province, Canoas, RS – Brazil

Date and Place of Birth:            November 27, 1939    Ivorá, Júlio de Castilhos, RS
Date and Place of Profession:   February 11, 1960      Passo Fundo, RS
Date and Place of Death:          April 12, 2020             Recanto Aparecida, Canoas, RS
Date and Place of Burial:           April 12, 2020             Convent Cemetery, Canoas, RS

“Jesus Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!”

In the early hours of April 12, the joyful Alleluia resounded to Sister Lourdes Maria! “Jesus Christ is risen!” As Mary Magdalene, who encounter the risen Lord on the Resurrection day, so did Sister Lourdes Maria, and now she is with the Risen Lord forever.

Lourdes Mariotto was the third of the six children born to Moisés Mariotto and Honorina Cereze Mariotto. Her family made a living from their farm and was also a deeply religious family. At a young age, Lourdes responded to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him in the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Later, her natural sister, Diva (who died in 2001) also joined the Congregation. Sister Lourdes M. was the third member of her family to complete her earthly journey.

Sister began her ministry in the Congregation by dedicating herself to household chores and as a teacher. Later, she identified her natural gift of caring for the sick and, started her professional life as a nursing assistant in different hospitals. She graduated in technical courses such as accounting, nursing, and secretarial work. From 1966 to December 2019, she devoted herself entirely to health care and family groups. For 27 years Sister served as a missionary in the state of Tocantins in the north of Brazil. In addition to her work in the health care field, she devoted herself to the pastoral care of children and expectant mothers. Her tireless service with the poorest and her loving care for all people, especially expectant mothers, witnessed to her missionary zeal and to the living out of our Notre Dame charism. In 2011, Sister Lourdes M. returned to the state of Rio Grande do Sul and engaged in preventive and alternative health care service and in pastoral care of children in Pinhal Grande. Her kind and simple manner, her commitment and joy, will be missed by this community.

After Christmas 2019, Sister Lourdes Maria came to Canoas for her annual retreat in preparation for her 60^th Jubilee. It was a very joyful event which she celebrated with her profession group together with time for special fun and a vacation.

When her Jubilee celebrations were over, Sister Lourdes M. remained in Canoas for a medical check-up. It was then that a rare cancer was found and which, in a very short time, took her life. On the night of April 11, although very weak, she said to the sister who was with her: “I’m ready! I am ready”.

Sister Lourdes Maria was a woman of deep faith, a love for the Eucharist and a devotion to Mary. Through her silence, her simplicity, and her smile, she incarnated the ND charism, making the good God known and loved. In her ministry of bringing comfort to bereaved families, and in her special care for the poor and sick who lacked access to traditional medicine, she left her mark of goodness and friendship wherever she went.

May Sister Lourdes M., now participating in the eternal Easter with the risen Lord, intercede for the whole world.