Religious Communities for Women Chapter 13: THE SAINT CECILIA SISTERS In 1984, Father Jose Eduardo Pereira, priest at St. Joao da Bana was expelled from his parish as well as other priests in our Congregation because they wished to present the Traditional Mass and the traditional teaching of the Church. In his exile from his parish, Father Jose founded the ‘St. Cecilia School’, a charitable association based in Barcelos, District of St. Joao da Barra.  One group of girls, living in community, started to live in the association house, helping out as lay catechists and in various charitable works. The Statue of St Cecilia in the Roman Catacumbs of St Callixtus in the position and in the place where her incorrupt body was found in the IXth century On November 22, 1984, the feast of St. Cecilia, the girls received their religious habits, creating another parochial religious community, like those of Good Jesus, Padua, Itaperuna, St. Fidelis and Campos (Guaros). The St. Cecilia Sisters number ten (1994); the Superior is Ana Cristina de Araujo. The community’s goal consists in a life of prayer, together with catechetical works in schools and orphanages.  At this moment the Sisters’ primary school work and St. Cecilia Orphanage has grown into three houses: one at St. Joao da Barra with 24 girls, two in Barcelos, one for boys which have 30 in number, and the other one for girls which houses 30. Besides teaching children in schools and orphanages, the Sisters give some lessons on regional products to the same children.  The community is maintained with the people’s charity and with the Sisters’ and children’s work: making clothes, shoes, tablecloths, etc. God bless this important work of tradition. Rev. Mother Superior of the Saint Cecilia Sisters c/o Fr. Fernando Areas Rifan Rua Miranda Pinto, 26 28040 Campos Brazil To Contents To Chapter 14