‘It has changed the course of my life’: we are grateful to publish this beautiful letter from Thiago, a young man from Nova Serrana who wanted to share the profound experience he had during the Youth Mission in Nova Serrana 2024, with its significant results.
We give the floor to Thiago.
The peace of Christ be with you!
I am writing this letter to share, with deep gratitude, the work that God has done and continues to do in my life through the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret. Without a doubt, they have been instruments of God’s mercy and love on my journey of faith.
For a long time, I was just one of many who called themselves Catholics but did not really know the beauty and depth of the faith. My contact with the Church was superficial, without commitment and without roots.
But, by divine providence, in December 2023 I received an invitation that would change the course of my history.
A friend called me to participate in the January 2024 missions, which would take place in my city, Nova Serrana, with the presence of young people and religious from different countries. I accepted the invitation, without imagining that a true conversion would begin there.
Before the missions, we had a meeting in the parish hall. In that environment, I felt completely out of place. I didn’t know anyone, and all the young people seemed to already be integrated with each other. The feeling of loneliness was so strong that I thought about leaving. It was then that, with a simple but tender gesture, Sister Fátima approached me and became my partner in an activity. I believe that she, moved by the Holy Spirit, saw not only a lonely young man, but a soul that needed to be welcomed.
Also at that meeting, I heard the testimony of Sister Eugenie, who shared with simplicity her experience of arriving in Brazil without knowing the language, facing many challenges, but persevering in the mission. Her words penetrated my heart and rekindled a flame that had been extinguished. Her courage awakened me and, inspired by her dedication, I decided to stay and participate in the missions.
January arrived, and I left for the mission.
Once again alone, and once again welcomed. I made friends with a girl from Paraguay, and once again, Sister Fátima was by my side as a sign of God’s presence. Little by little, I began to socialise with the missionaries, get to know the young people in my parish, and live the mission intensely.
The experiences I had were transformative. For the first time, I saw faith lived in practice: in listening, in caring for the sick, in community prayer, in free and selfless service. There I discovered something I had never experienced before: the joy of serving. In particular, I realised that I felt a deep love for visiting the sick, being with those who suffer, listening to their stories. In them, I felt Christ himself.
At the end of the missions, I realised that everyone around me had a greater knowledge of Scripture and a more mature experience of faith. This did not alienate me, but awakened me. I felt a calling within me. It was time to learn more, to form myself, to become a true Catholic. I decided to study the faith, to immerse myself in the Word, to seek the sacraments with greater depth and responsibility.
T
he example of the sisters was what impacted me the most. Women who left everything behind—their countries, their families, their languages and cultures—to follow Christ and serve the poorest of the poor with the charism of Saint Jeanne Antide. Their total dedication out of love for God inspired me. The young missionaries, passionate about Jesus and the Church, also motivated me. I wanted to be like them.
After the mission, Sister Fátima invited me to join the Friends of Saint Jeanne Antida group. From then on, I began attending meetings, formation courses, and events. I met people from my parish, became part of the community, and became an active participant in the life of the Church. Little by little, I understood that God was not only calling me to be part of the Church, but also to live my faith in a deep and consistent way.
If today I seek Jesus sincerely, with a thirst and a sincere desire to know and love him, I know exactly where this story began.
I know where the change in my life took place.
Lord, I know that it all began in that parish hall, in that simple gesture of welcome, where Christ found me through the love of a nun.
To him, all honour and glory.
Thiago M.
