The religious sister, a member of the Tikuna indigenous people and the Congregation of the Ursuline Sisters of St. Charles, shares her experience of consecrated life, her commitment to indigenous peoples, and her dream of an Amazonian Church that listens, values cultural diversity, and walks alongside communities.
Being an indigenous woman and embracing consecrated life does not mean renouncing one’s roots, but rather recognizing them as part of one’s vocation and placing them at the service of life, the community, and the Gospel. This is how Sister Mary Tauana, a religious of the Congregation of the Ursuline Sisters of San Carlos—a member of the Tikuna indigenous people from Palmares in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, and currently residing in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás—expresses it.
In her testimony, she shares how her Indigenous identity, the memory of her ancestors, and the spirituality of her people illuminate her journey of following Jesus. Her experience also highlights the challenges faced by Indigenous women within the Church and religious life, as well as the richness they bring to building a Church with an Amazonian, intercultural, and synodal character.
A Vocation That Embraces Roots and Identity
For Sister Mary Tauana, her vocation springs from the experience of a call from God that encompasses her entire personal and collective history. Her Indigenous identity is not a separate aspect of her religious life, but a fundamental dimension of how she lives her faith and responds to her mission.
“God called me not to stop being who I am, but to offer Him my life with everything I carry within me: my identity, my culture, my memory, my spirituality, and the history of my people,” she affirms.
Based on this conviction, she understands consecrated life as a self-giving that does not erase her origins but rather gives them new meaning. The wisdom of her ancestors, the teachings of her elders, and her people’s history of resistance are part of the richness she carries with her on her vocational journey.
This experience is also an invitation to recognize that Indigenous vocations are a gift to the entire Church. Indigenous women do not have to renounce their cultural identity to follow Jesus; on the contrary, they can find in their own roots a place of encounter with God and a source of commitment to life.
A mission that transforms and teaches us to listen
For Sister Mary Tauana, mission has been an ongoing experience of encounter, listening, and conversion. Through the communities with whom she shares her journey, she discovers that God reveals himself not only in moments of prayer, but also in people’s daily struggles, joys, silences, and hopes.
The simplicity of those who share what little they have, the wisdom of the elders, the strength of women, and the hope of young people are some of the experiences that enrich her vocation.
“I have come to understand that I am not only called to bring the Gospel, but also to allow myself to be evangelized by those with whom I walk,” she says.
This perspective transforms her understanding of mission: it is not about arriving in communities believing she has all the answers, but rather about recognizing the presence of God who already dwells within them, learning from their experiences, and accompanying their journeys with humility and respect.
Her testimony resonates with a fundamental dimension of synodality: a Church that listens, learns, and discerns alongside the people, recognizing that everyone has something to contribute to life and to the mission of evangelization.
Indigenous Spirituality as a Path to Encountering the Gospel
Her membership in the Tikuna people has profoundly shaped the way Sister Mary Tauana understands life, community, and her relationship with God. Her identity reminds her that no one walks alone; rather, each person is part of a shared history, sustained by the memory of ancestors, the teachings of elders, and community bonds.
Among the elements of her people’s spirituality that resonate with the Gospel are respect for life, sharing, listening to elders, caring for nature, and a sense of belonging to the community.
These values resonate with the message of Jesus, who draws near to people, listens to their stories, welcomes the little ones, and restores dignity to those who are forgotten.
Also noteworthy is the deep bond between Indigenous peoples and their territories. For her, the land cannot be understood solely as a resource to be used, for it sustains life, preserves the memory of peoples, and forms part of their identity.
From this perspective, the encounter between indigenous wisdom and the Gospel can enrich the life of the Church and contribute to an incarnational spirituality committed to human dignity, justice, and the care of our Common Home.
“I believe that the encounter between the Gospel and the wisdom of indigenous peoples can profoundly enrich the Church, provided it takes place with respect, discernment, and openness to dialogue,” she notes.
The Wounds of the Amazon and the Commitment to Defending Life
Sister Mary Tauana views with concern the wounds afflicting the Amazonian territories and their inhabitants. The destruction of forests, wildfires, river pollution, land invasions, violence, and the disregard for indigenous rights threaten not only the balance of ecosystems but also the continuity of the peoples’ cultures and ways of life.
When a territory is threatened, she explains, it is not only the physical space that suffers: the memory of ancestors, the knowledge passed down through generations, and the identity of the communities are also put at risk.
Added to these problems are the prejudices and discrimination that indigenous peoples still face, sometimes forcing them to defend the value of their languages, traditions, and knowledge.
In light of these realities, the nun believes that consecrated life is called to make a concrete commitment to defending the life and dignity of these communities.
“Prayer must lead us to commitment, because we cannot speak of a God who loves life and remain silent in the face of what destroys it,” she affirms.
Her testimony reminds us that the Church’s mission in the Amazon cannot remain on the sidelines of the peoples’ struggles and hopes. It is called to accompany them, listen to their voices, respect their decisions, and contribute to the defense of their rights.
Indigenous Women: Identity, Participation, and Contributions to the Church
Living a consecrated life as an indigenous woman also involves facing challenges related to the recognition of one’s own cultural identity and effective participation in ecclesial spaces.
For Sister Mary Tauana, it is necessary to strengthen spaces for listening where indigenous women can share their experiences, contribute their knowledge, and actively participate in the Church’s mission.
It is not merely a matter of being present or representing their peoples, but of ensuring that their voices are heard and valued in all their richness.
This journey requires dialogue, openness, and a constant willingness to convert. A Church made up of diverse peoples and cultures is called to recognize the gifts that each one brings and to build relationships based on respect and fraternity.
“We do not need to abandon our roots to live a consecrated life. We can be fully Indigenous and fully committed to following Jesus,” she asserts.
Based on this conviction, she dreams of a religious life in which each person can live out their vocation without hiding or denying their history, and in which cultural diversity is recognized as a treasure that strengthens ecclesial communion.
A Message of Hope for the New Generations
Sister Mary Tauana also addresses a message to young Indigenous people who feel called to consecrated life. She invites them to listen to God’s voice without fear, to discern their vocation freely, and to recognize that their roots, their culture, and the history of their peoples are part of the gifts they can offer to the Church.
“Do not be afraid to listen to that voice. God knows your story, your roots, your dreams, and your concerns,” she says.
Her invitation is to live out one’s vocation without being ashamed of one’s origins, strengthening the bond with communities and keeping alive the wisdom received from ancestors.
For her, following Jesus can be a profound way to continue serving the peoples, defending life, and contributing to the building of more just, fraternal, and welcoming communities.
The Church needs young Indigenous people who live their faith authentically and who help pave the way for an evangelization that respects cultures and is committed to human dignity.
The dream of an Amazonian Church that walks alongside the peoples
Looking toward the future, Sister Mary Tauana dreams of Indigenous communities that can live in peace, with their territories protected, their rights respected, and their cultures passed on to new generations. She hopes that children will grow up knowing the history of their peoples, that young people will find opportunities without having to renounce their identity, and that Indigenous women will be recognized for their wisdom and their contribution to community life.
For the Church in the Amazon, her dream is of a community of faith with a heart open to cultural diversity—one capable of recognizing God’s presence in the history of indigenous peoples and of learning from their spirituality.
“A Church with an open heart—one that knows how to listen before speaking, walk alongside before judging, and serve before seeking the spotlight”—this is the Church she hopes to see grow.
Her testimony is an invitation to continue building a Church with an Amazonian face, in which indigenous peoples are recognized as protagonists of their own history and of the evangelizing mission. A Church that accompanies their struggles, shares their hopes, and values the contribution of indigenous women to consecrated life.
In the closing words of her reflection, Sister Mary Tauana sums up the profound meaning of her vocation: “To be indigenous and consecrated means this: to belong to a people, to give myself to God, and to make my own life a seed of hope so that life may continue to flourish.”
A seed that sinks its roots into the memory of the peoples, grows with the strength of the Gospel, and is called to bear fruit in the form of communion, justice, and hope for the Amazon and for the entire Church.