Sr. Helena Paula Carvalho, SFP
September 27, 1945 – June 26, 2023
Sister Helena Paula Carvalho was born in the city of Ipameri, Goiás, Brazil, on September 27, 1945, a daughter of Romeu Carvalho and Helena João Carvalho, one of the couple’s fourteen children, four boys and ten girls.
She entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor on February 2, 1965. She made her first religious profession on July 16, 1968, and professed her perpetual vows on February 21, 1976.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1977. She then worked as a nurse for many years at the Carmela Dutra Hospital and Maternity Clinic, which operated from 1961 to 1982 in Pires do Rio. Her work at the Maternity Clinic lasted 21 years. Through her hands, so many children came into the world. After the facility closed, she took the state contest and worked for many years at the Regional Health Department of Goiás with much love and dedication.
She lived in New Jersey, in the United States, from 1991 to 1993, where she completed an immunology internship related to the HIV epidemic and affectionately treated patients with full-blown AIDS at a hospital belonging to the Congregation.
In Brazil, many children, adults, and elderly received her services through vaccinations in rural areas and follow-up of persons with AIDS or living with HIV, as well as diabetic and hypertensive patients. She used to leave early in the morning to treat patients affected by charcoal plants in distant areas and only arrived home after dark.
From 2004 to 2006, she served the Congregation in Senegal, having been one of the founders of the Samine Community in Casamance. In that zone south of Senegal, she did beautiful work among the poor, leaving planted seeds that flourished and continue to bear fruit today. She lived in that community from January 3 to October 14, 2006.
Sr. Helena Paula held various positions in service of the Congregation, most recently as a member of the International Membership Development and Mission Committee.
She was a woman of prayer and great faith who bravely faced cancer treatment for 13 years. Throughout that time, she always remained optimistic, serene, hopeful, enthusiastic, joyful, and confident in God’s grace because she loved living. Illness was never an obstacle; she continued her activities at her usual pace, donating her life to the various ministries of the Congregation toward the poor.
In Brazil, she lived in Pires do Rio, Jataí, and Goiânia, moving everyone with her exemplary missionary courage and total commitment to the poor and sick. Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she led choirs and loved to sing and enchant. She persevered in prayer and was responsible for her commitments to community life and pastoral work.
She loved presiding over celebrations of the Word, giving talks, singing in public, and giving spiritual assistance to those who sought her out, doing all this with great joy and dedication. She praised and thanked God for allowing her to be a light in the lives of her brothers and sisters. She was devoted to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and was always present in the novenas she had started in Pires do Rio more than 40 years ago. She left several disciples in the old Our Lady Aparecida Chapel, and today, the novena continues to be held in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in that city every Wednesday.
Her persistence in the life of prayer and fidelity to God lasted until the last moment of her life. She confidently faced the exhaustive cancer treatment without losing faith and hope for better days. She was passionate about life and fought for it until God called her to Paradise on June 26, 2023. The Church celebrates the day of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on June 27, precisely the date she was. Her persistence in her life of prayer and fidelity to God lasted until the last day of her life. She confidently faced the exhaustive cancer treatment without losing faith and hope for better days. She was passionate about life and fought for it until God called her to Paradise on June 26, 2023. The Church celebrates the day of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on June 27, precisely the date she was waked and buried in Pires do Rio, which perhaps was not by chance.
Her testimony of love and care for nature honored us, and her multiple artistic gifts of writing, singing, and painting beautiful oil paintings enhanced our communal living. Talking about Sister Helena Paula comes quite easy since “you will know the tree by the fruit it bears,” as Jesus said. By planting the seeds of good, Sister Helena Paula had the joy of reaping many good fruits in her earthly life.
Near the end, when we asked her what she wanted, she replied: “May God’s will be done.” She had fulfilled her mission in this world without losing her focus, which was Christ himself.
The following are some testimonials from our Sisters, Associates, and friends who remember with affection Sr. Helena Paula Carvalho:
Sr Helena Paula witnessed to me what it truly means to be a woman of YES for God in all the seasons of her life. May she now JOY in God forever.
Sr. Marilyn Trowbridge, sfp
I am grateful to God for having had such a special sister as Helena Paula.
We didn’t have many opportunities to be together, but the few times we did interact were spiritually profound.
In June 2019, we had the grace to spend a few days together in Aachen. I saw her as a determined and joyful woman despite her illness. We often prayed side by side before Mother Frances’ tomb. On one such occasion, I won’t forget her words: “If we must ask for a grace of healing, let us not ask for it for me, but for Sr. Raffaella, who is younger and still has so much to give to the Congregation.” I saw this as giving one’s life to the fullest, and Sister Helena Paula was the one who taught me this.
Thank you, dear sister, for the good you spread and the many people who, through you, experienced being cared for by our healing charisma. Now, you are in Heaven with Raffaella, and I ask you to intercede for our protection and give us much strength and courage. May your departure to heaven enlighten us.
Sr. Loredana Giugliano, sfp
I had the grace of living in the same community with Sister Helena Paula in different years, contexts, and places. Her loyalty, commitment, testimony of love, and dedication to the poor and most vulnerable have always enchanted me.
Being by her side in the most painful and difficult moments of her life gave me the opportunity to show my love for her as someone who loved life so much, every person she met, and our Congregation.
In addition to the strong mark of her departure to Heaven, in my heart, there are other key elements, such as her faithfulness, perseverance, and zeal for the things of God. Her courage in facing life’s challenges. Her joy, enthusiasm, and good mood, even in the face of suffering. Her choice of surrendering herself to God’s will even when facing the feeling of being abandoned. “I need to enter into God’s abandonment” was one of her last pleas.
I sincerely believe that our Sister Helena Paula entirely fulfilled her mission.
May God’s infinite mercy help us to fulfill our own.
Sr. Thalyta Pereira Lima, sfp
What to say about our dear Sr. Helena Paula?
She was a courageous warrior, unafraid to face new challenges, as she lived in foreign countries, facing new cultural challenges, and gladly experiencing our intercultural nature.
A woman of faith, she spared no effort. When asked to do something, she was always ready. A woman who served on the most diverse fronts of work, serving both the wealthy and the poorest. A woman of good cheer, she always smiled to welcome everyone who called on her to be present.
A woman artist, she left us her paintings, proclaiming the wonders of God, whether on a piece of wood, stone, fabric, canvas, or paper. A woman of prayer, she spent hours praying before the Blessed Sacrament, bringing her intentions to each one who asked her for prayers. A contemplative woman, she cultivated her passion for praying before the crucified Christ.
Such was her earthly journey.
With great longing, Sr. Maria Lucia Barbosa de Oliveira, sfp
Sister Helena Paula was an example of meekness and acceptance of her ills; she had healed Christ’s many wounds on the poor and needy. Indeed, she must have received the reward of eternity.
With longing,
Elizabete Camara, SFP Associate
We know that the death of someone we love brings sadness to our souls.
A plain knowledge of the grand plan of salvation helps to alleviate our suffering.
Understanding immortality and eternal life strengthens our hope for future things. However, even knowing this, we miss our loved ones.
We deal with pain better when we understand that our Savior atoned for our sins and rose again and that all will be resurrected as everyone in Christ can achieve eternal life.
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, as we proclaim to the world. Having faith in God is the first principle of Life. Sr. Helena Paula’s absence moves us.
We pray and trust that heaven is exultant as her long-awaited resurrection is there.
May God be praised for her life in our midst!
The employees, friends, parents/guardians, children, and the Pedagogical Team of the John XXIII Early Childhood Education Center, Jataí, Brazil
Dear Sister Helena Paula, your aquamarine clear gaze and winning smile are being missed; your angelical voice no longer sings praises in our midst, though your painting works remain, impeccable, bearing witness to your passing while inspiring us to follow in the footsteps of Francis, Clare and Blessed Frances toward Jesus. Glory to God and much peace. Ilion Troya, collaborator and friend
