The 57-year-old triplet sisters, María Gorete dos Santos, María de Lourdes dos Santos, and María Aparecida dos Santos, are all nuns who belong to the Franciscan Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
They were born into a large Catholic family of 17 siblings in the rural Bahia state of Brazil.
From a young age, the sisters felt a calling to religious life, something that María Gorete believes only God can explain.
The triplets grew up in the small town of Itamira, in the district of Aporá.
As children, they met an Italian nun named Sister Ricarda, whose devotion and service inspired them to follow the same path.
Sister Ricarda would visit their community, hold Mass, and teach the children about their faith.
Lourdes expressed her desire to be like Sister Ricarda, a sentiment that resonated with her sisters and solidified their calling.
María Gorete shared their story with ACI Digital, revealing that their mother, Josefa Mendes de Souza, only allowed her daughters to leave home for marriage or religious life.
Despite their desire to become nuns, the family didn’t know how to make it a reality. A local priest eventually connected them with the superior of a convent in Salvador, Bahía state.
Lourdes was the first to enter the convent in 1984, followed by Aparecida a year later and then Gorete after another year.
The sisters lived together in the same convent in Salvador for a year, supporting each other through their spiritual journey.
Their presence caused some confusion due to their striking resemblance, as other nuns would mistake them for one another.
Today, María Gorete works at Asilo Santo Antônio in São José dos Campos, São Paulo state, while María de Lourdes resides in the convent of Santa Clara do Desterro in Salvador.
María Aparecida is currently caring for their 85-year-old mother at home.
The triplets have arranged to take turns caring for their mother, having sought permission from their mother superior.
For María Gorete, following a religious life has been worth the sacrifices. She believes that by following Jesus, they find meaning and are prepared for whatever comes their way.
They are committed to carrying out their mission of serving others, whether it be in their family, convent, or wherever God leads them.
»Childhood Divine Calling: The Story of Brazilian Triplets in One Order”«
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