As we mark the 40th anniversary of her martyrdom, the figure of Sister Cleusa Carolina Rody Coelho continues to illuminate the path of the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters (MAR) across four continents. On that morning of April 28, 1985, while navigating the Paciá River in the Brazilian Amazon, this religious woman’s life was cut short for defending indigenous peoples against landowners and companies threatening their territories.
“She loved the lives of her brothers and sisters more than her own, and that is why they killed her. They killed her, yes; but they did not take her life, because she had already given it so that Christ might reign,” her sisters in the congregation remember.
Born on November 12, 1933, in Cachoeiro do Itapemirim and incorporated into the MAR in 1952, Sister Cleusa lived an authentic inculturation, sharing the living conditions of the communities she served. “I spent a week there, living in one of the eight straw huts in the place, living with everyone. Daily and continuous contact with children, youth, and adults—this is how one can understand the life of the people, feel their values and difficulties,” she wrote in one of her testimonies.
“Her relationship with the Father was one of trust, tenderness, and prophetism, a filial relationship that she externalized in her actions and convictions for the Kingdom; this is why she was capable of loving to the point of martyrdom, saving lives,” explains Sister Marlene, an Augustinian Recollect Missionary.
During the Amazon Synod (2019), Sister Cleusa was highlighted as a model of an inculturated and committed missionary, demonstrating that the option for the poor is not a theological abstraction but a concrete commitment that can extend to the extreme of giving one’s life.
The Living Legacy: Current MAR Projects Around the World
“For us, MAR and Lay people, her testimony inspires us, pulls us out of our comfort zone, commits us to the smallest ones, and drives us to join forces with our ARCORES family in the various projects where life and human dignity are threatened,” affirms Sister Marlene.
This spirit of total dedication is reflected today in the multiple projects that the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters develop in different parts of the world:
China: Healing Bodies and Souls
In Henan province, the MAR have launched two complementary initiatives. The “Supporting Left-behind Children” project serves 16 minors from 10 families who have been left in the care of their grandparents while their parents migrate to cities, or who have lost their parents.
“We see that these children lack parental affection and family warmth. Their biggest problems are psychological,” the missionaries explain. The project includes biweekly visits, economic support, school assistance, and psychological consultations, even implementing sand tray therapy.
In parallel, they have developed a “Health care through traditional Chinese medicine” service for elderly people without resources. Five sisters and one laywoman offer Original Point therapeutic massage, Gua Sha, and acupuncture at three centers. “The poor don’t usually go to the hospital until they are seriously ill. What we can offer is to relieve minor discomforts and prevent their illnesses from worsening,” explains one of the sisters.
Venezuela: Nutrition in Times of Crisis
Amid a severe humanitarian crisis, the MAR are developing a child nutrition program in three Venezuelan communities: St. Pius X Parish (Capital District), St. Onuphrius Parish (Zulia), and St. Augustine Parish Vicariate (Anzoátegui).
The program serves 60 children and adolescents between 0 and 14 years of age in a country where about 35.4% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition. “We have observed a worrying increase in cases of malnutrition, especially in babies,” explains a project coordinator. The initiative includes food distribution, infant formula, and regular pediatric evaluations.
Ecuador: Protecting the Dignity of Adolescents
In Guamote, Ecuador, where 97% of the population is indigenous Kichwa, the MAR have been running since 1988 the program “Prevention of sexual violence and adolescent pregnancy and comprehensive care for young mothers,” addressing a reality where 15.24% of pregnancies are among adolescents.
“Women, in many situations, are not owners of their bodies,” explains Sister Yolenny Ramírez. In 2024, the project will serve 90 adolescents and young mothers, 30 with educational scholarships, offering training workshops, psychological support, and medical care.
Brazil: Transforming Communities
In Nova California, Itabuna, in the southern region of Bahia, the MAR have maintained since 1993 a social transformation project that benefits vulnerable families. “Starting in 2017, we intensified the mission with weekly visits,” explains Sister Rosita Salvador.
The program benefits 15 families, 20 children, and 10 young people in a community affected by unemployment, semi-illiteracy, and violence. Activities include home visits, meetings with volunteer professionals, workshops, and school reinforcement, with special emphasis on caring for the “Common Home” following the encyclical Laudato Si’.
The Spirit of Cleusa: Present and Future
Four decades after her martyrdom, Sister Cleusa’s spirit remains alive in every project of the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters. Her radical option for the most vulnerable is reflected in initiatives that combine evangelization and human promotion, adapting to the specific needs of each context while always maintaining a commitment to those living on the margins.
As a novice inspired by her testimony expressed: “In Sister Cleusa, I see that the Kingdom of God is happening in the midst of the world, and that I too am called to extend it and make it known.”
On this anniversary, the MAR renew their commitment to follow in Cleusa’s footsteps, working for a world where peace, dignity, and justice are a reality for all God’s children, especially those on the edges of an exclusionary system.
