Brazil: a Blossoming Field of Apostolic Mission

The Experience of Sister Paola Lucco, ICMS

From February 18 to April 21 of this year, I had the grace of spending two months in Aracaju, in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, at the "Our Lady of Fatima" mission - one of the apostolic outposts of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (FIHM).
This was my fourth experience in this land, always lived with renewed joy and deep gratitude for what the Lord is accomplishing through this mission.
This is not just a project—it is a beacon of hope, a concrete embrace for those most in need. Over the years, it has grown significantly. The stable presence of the Fathers has created fertile ground in which the charism of the FIHM has taken root and borne visible fruit.
Through the support of the Antognozzi Foundation, large spaces have been built for prayer, youth activities, family formation, and catechesis. These are simple yet well-maintained places, born from the generosity of many hearts. They are not just physical structures—they are true spaces of communion, where faith is shared, strengthened, and passed on.
I personally witnessed goodness flourish through the training workshops funded by the Foundation, aimed at offering future job opportunities in a region marked by high illiteracy and poverty.

Truly, every donation -even the smallest - is a spark that ignites hope and builds a future.

One tangible sign of this flourishing is the “Stella più bella” (Brightest Star) school, a private school founded about a year and a half ago by our FIHM Movement and officially recognized by the Brazilian government. It currently serves 67 children, from kindergarten through elementary and middle school.
Well-trained lay members are deeply involved in this educational mission, offering high-quality academic and spiritual formation. The school does not merely provide education; it aims to guide the children in their human and Christian growth, following our charism.
The message of Fatima and the spirituality of reparation shape the educational approach, enriched by catechesis, weekly celebration of Holy Mass, and monthly confession for all students. This apostolate is also having a profound effect on the families of the children - many of whom have begun a serious journey of faith and conversion.

All of this has been made possible thanks to the generous support of benefactors, whose contributions have enabled the birth and development of this initiative. However, the needs remain great, and the effort to ensure the continuity of the mission is ongoing. What is being built in Brazil is something alive and extraordinary - but much remains to be done.
To complete the works, sustain the school, and secure the future of the mission, we need your help. Each brick, each desk, each smile is a tangible sign of your trust and charity.

On behalf of those I met, of those who work on the front lines every day,

and of those who now receive—with dignity and joy—the gift of solidarity: thank you!

Let us continue this miracle of love together, building, day by day, the Kingdom of God.