Sr. Pierângela Dalla Riva
Sr. Pierângela was born in Erechim on September 14, 1945. She is the first of six children to Pedro Dalla Riva and Ângela De Ré. She entered the Congregation on March 4, 1971, and made her First Religious Profession on February 10, 1974.
In almost 50 years of religious life, Sr. Pierângela has spent 40 years dedicated to the mission in the Liturgical Apostolic Centers. From the stories of priests and friends, you can feel the imprint of faith and generosity that guided their mission. Every day, with joy, hope, and the certainty of Divine Providence, the day began with prayer together with the collaborators of CAL (Center of Liturgical Apostolate). Before the store opened, from 9:00 to 11:45, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the internal Chapel of the Center.
Priests have considered the CAL of San Paolo as an oasis and a meeting place. Sister Pierângela enchanted them with the strength of our mission as Disciples of the Lord. All priests and other people entering CAL somehow sought the sister, either for help or to be listened to.
Countless experiences have marked her life in these years. She shares: “One day, I was at the bottom of the stairs on the upper floor, observing the movement of people entering the chapel—some sad, worried, with heads down, disheartened. When they left the chapel, they were no longer the same because their expression was serene. They were grateful to have encountered the Lord: ‘It’s beautiful for us to stay here; it’s a place of peace, this is God’s house.'”
She recounts another incident: “Once, a homeless man entered the store and, at the door, noticed a path in the floorboards leading to the chapel. He wanted to stand straight and walk straight, progressing with difficulty while maintaining an upright position. He stopped, looked at me, and asked, ‘Sister, is this the way to God?’ I said yes, and he went to the chapel. This man prayed for himself and for all men, praising and thanking the good Lord for meeting him in His house. He left quietly with hands joined, radiant, happy, and very grateful.”
And she continues: “On February 3, 2011, I was on the upper floor helping a priest when I heard someone climbing the stairs with difficulty. I asked for permission and went to meet him. It was Don José, a 96-year-old priest. I reached out to help him, but he, full of joy, said, ‘I’m already here, thanks to God.’
He had wanted to come here for a long time, to talk a bit. I sat him down and later, I sat with him, and we talked a lot. In the end, I asked if he needed anything from the store. He replied, ‘I have already received everything from you. Here, I bring some money to buy myself a tunic, the whitest one in the store.’ So, I chose a custom tunic for his size. He soon put it on, and it fit him perfectly. He stood in front of the mirror with hands joined and was so grateful. He said, ‘With this, I go to my Father’s house in heaven.’ His eyes sparkled with joy, and he was amazed that there was still some money left from what little he had.”
In the late afternoon of the same day, a middle-aged man arrived. He looked around very calmly. He had stopped at the chapel and was now visiting the upper floor. He walked silently. I greeted him and made him feel comfortable. After a while, he approached and said, ‘Have you noticed that I’m not Catholic? I come from Umbanda (a monotheistic and Afro-Brazilian religion), but I am so happy to be here in this place, in this house of peace.’
I asked him what I could help him with, and he thanked me because I had already helped him from the moment he entered. And he continued, ‘Your gaze followed me all the time; thank you, I felt welcomed. I want to tell you that here, I experienced being in the presence of God, the only God of all of us, equal to all. I leave with joy and very grateful.'”
Sister Pierângela concludes: “I continue to thank and bless the Lord for the countless experiences of faith that have occurred in these years. I have always sought and found that the best help is the help of listening. Welcome everyone in the best possible way. In our chapel, there is a place for everyone.
The Word of God always puts us in an attitude of humility and internal openness to welcome the mystery of love that knows no limits. I have found, in the light of the writings of Don Alberione, Mother Scholastica, and the articles of the Rule of Life, the way to be a living witness of the presence of the Risen Lord in every moment of our history. Our dear and beloved Mother Scholastica, in her writings, reminds us that here is ‘a land of merits and paradise is a place of joy.’ It is also our desire that the Lord Himself be in us the only everything so that everyone can see and love Him.”
For everything, we give eteranl thanksgiving!