I was born in 1941. My family consisted of my parents, five brothers, and two sisters; I was the fourth child. We were a very close-knit, hardworking family, living off the land. The village had 200 inhabitants and was shaped by the National Catholicism of the post-Spanish Civil War era. It was an economy based entirely on agriculture and livestock, with a cohesive community life. Daily routines revolved around farm
From distant lands she arrived with a suitcase full of missionary dreams, youth, and hope, and filled with the utopian vision of proclaiming the Kingdom—the good news—to an unknown land. Undoubtedly, her fears were present, but they did not paralyze her. Angelina Llamazares Gutiérrez, Spanish by birth, Latin American at heart—a woman faithful to God’s call and determined to bring about the Kingdom of peace and justice in the concrete
A Journey of Faith, Mission, and Hope As a Dominican Missionary of the Rosary, I live out my vocation as a journey of continuous learning that invites me to deepen my relationship with God and prepare myself to serve the Church and humanity. Studying theology at Rafael Landívar University in Guatemala City was a foundational experience for my human, spiritual, intellectual, and intercultural formation. It opened up new horizons of
It was 1987, and a challenge began in the northern part of the city of Antofagasta, in northern Chile—literally, in those years, the end of the world. Beyond this land lay only sand and hills teeming with desert life. In March 1990, the doors of our classrooms opened to welcome the first group of students to the “COLEGIO FEMENINO MADRE DEL ROSARIO.” This is where the Missionary Dominican Sisters
For 100 years, our homeland has been under the protection and care of the Mother of Christ, under the title of Our Lady of Carmel. She was crowned Queen and patroness of the Chilean people, and since then, all of Chile—especially on July 16—pays homage to the Mother of Heaven. In northern Chile, in a desert town called La Tirana—known for a shrub called the tamarugal—thousands of people gather from
It has been a true joy to experience and now to share what the second stage of the Ramón Zubieta y Les Province entailed, held from July 12th to 17th in Ecuador. These were intense days, woven with listening, prayer, and sisterhood, which left us with a profound certainty: we are sisters, builders of dreams, and these dreams, when shared, cease to be individual and become a common project that
“Here I am, Lord, to do your will.” These are simple words, but behind them lies a whole story. When I pronounced them on the day of my First Religious Profession, I understood that this “yes” didn’t just spring from the emotion of a celebration. It was the response to a path that God had been patiently preparing, even long before I could recognize it. The days leading up to
Vocation is not a burden but a gift. It is God’s invitation to abide in Him, to bear fruit, and to live a life of love and service. As Saint Paul reminds us: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This truth has guided me from the very first day I entered the convent, filling my heart with joy, courage, and gratitude. I still recall the joy of
On August 5, 2025, at 10:30 p.m., a young girl packed her suitcase and followed the voice calling from her heart. She had not fully understood what this decision would mean, but she already knew she would take the risk. Still, she was brave enough to go. She arrived in a new country ready to face a new culture, learn a new language, and meet new people. That was me—Monica.
