Moreau's Mission Today
The mission of Father Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is alive today through the ministries of sisters, brothers and priests throughout the world. Please bookmark this link and check back each week to "meet" a Sister of the Holy Cross.
Sister Maria Regina Gomes, CSC
Sister Maria Regina grew up in a Holy Cross Parish in Jaguaré, São Paulo Brazil. Her early education was spent in a school, directed by the Holy Cross Priests.
This parish was the first Mission that the Holy Cross sisters opened after College Santa Maria. There she met some sisters: Rose Martin, Caecilius, Juliette, Olivette, Francine and others. Sister Maria Regina’s interest in Holy Cross really came in her teens, working and participating with the sisters in the parish, with the great collaboration of her parents, who also were very envolved in the parish work.
She joined Holy Cross in 1966 in São Paulo, Brazil and professed her final vows in 1975 also in Brazil, but she prepared for them at Saint Mary´s, where she spent a couple of months. It was then that she had the pleasure of getting to know Sister Rose Anne Schultz, CSC, who gave her much support at that important moment in her life.
For many years she taught in public schools, in a Holy Cross, daycare center with 130 children from the slums, and in adult education, using Paulo Freire´s Method.
Today she lives in São Paulo and does volunteer service in a project for foreign women in the prisons in São Paulo.
They attend now about 400 women from all over the world: Australia, United States, South Africa, Peru, Germany, etc.
Their work is to accompany them, through activities such as:
- contacting families through letters, e-mail and phone calls
- verifying that their human rights are guaranteed
- explaining their legal situation
- giving spiritual support
They also attend the brasilian prisoners especially in questions regarding their children.
They do this through weekly visits, workshops on domestic violence, gender and citizenship and working for changes in laws and norms that will better their situation in jail.
Sister Maria Regina’s part in this is to make sure things happen, supervising the administrative and financial areas of our non-profit organization.
Sometimes the days are hard but she enjoys the work and wish you could come to Brazil to join them.