St. Irma Dulce Pontes

St. Irma Dulce Pontes, known for her extraordinary service to the poor and sick in Brazil, was a Brazilian religious sister who founded the Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce and was canonized as a saint in 2020.

Maria Dulce dos Santos Pontes, widely known as St. Irma Dulce Pontes, was born on May 26, 1914, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. From a young age, Irma Dulce felt a calling to the religious life and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Bahia. Her deep compassion for the sick, the poor, and the marginalized drove her to dedicate her life to serving others.

In 1933, Irma Dulce took her vows as a religious sister and devoted herself to charitable works. Her most significant contributions were to the impoverished communities in Salvador, where she focused on health care, education, and providing for the homeless. Her work included founding a number of institutions, most notably the Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce (Sister Dulce Social Works), an organization that continues to serve the poor in Brazil to this day. The organization focuses on healthcare, providing medical care to those who could not afford it, and offering shelter to the homeless.

Irma Dulce's deep faith and dedication to the service of others made her a beloved figure in Brazil. Despite her frail health, she tirelessly worked to care for the most vulnerable, often at great personal cost. She lived in conditions of poverty alongside the people she served and was known for her extraordinary humility and selflessness. Her unwavering commitment to helping others earned her the title of “the good angel of Bahia,” a reflection of her caring nature and her impact on the lives of those she served.

Throughout her life, St. Irma Dulce Pontes was honored with numerous awards and recognitions, though she always deflected attention from herself, attributing everything to God’s grace. Her actions were an embodiment of the Christian call to love and serve one’s neighbor, especially the most vulnerable. Irma Dulce passed away on March 9, 1992, at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, service, and devotion.

Irma Dulce was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, and on October 13, 2020, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis. Her canonization was the culmination of years of recognition of her extraordinary charitable work and deep spirituality. Today, she is remembered not only for her acts of kindness but also as a role model for all who seek to live lives of selfless service to others.

Feast Day

13-5-

Birth Date

26-5-1914

Died Date

9-3-1992

Canonised Date

13-10-2020

Salvador, Brazil

St. Irma Dulce Pontes, you served the poor and sick with compassion and selflessness. Help us to follow your example of love and service to others, especially those in need. May your intercession bring us closer to Christ and strengthen our hearts in kindness and charity. Amen.
ST. IRMA DULCE PONTES

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ST. IRMA DULCE PONTES

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