from an article on www.piresdorio.go.gov.br
translated by Sr. Mary Conrad Wiersteiner, OSF
A citizen of Pires do Rio from her heart, Sister Diva (pictured above, center), the fourth child of a former mayor of the city, Deodor Veiga, and his wife Josephine Gonçalves Veiga, was born on the Olinda Ranch, in the vicinity of the town of Santa Cruz, but within the municipality of Pires do Rio. Of a tradi-tional family of Pires do Rio, on the paternal and maternal sides, Sister Diva studied in the schools of the city, gradu-ating from Sacred Heart Normal School.
Invited by the “Divine Call,” Sister Diva entered religious life in 1957, choosing to follow the Gospel precepts as a Franciscan Sister of Allegany. She was a postulant in An-apolis, and a novice in Allegany, New York, and professed her first vows in August of 1959.
Returning to Brazil, she was missioned to the Parochial School in Goiandira where she was a teacher and principal for seven years. Transferred to Cristalandia, she was prin-cipal of the State High School during a period of seven years.
From Cristalandia, Sister Diva was transferred to the high school in Ceres, where she taught English and Singing. Soon she returned to Cristalandia, where she reassumed the administration of the State High School for one more year.
In 1976, Sister Diva returned to her native area as vice principal of Sacred Heart Parochial School, an institute of primary, intermediate and secondary education, assuming also the choral pastoral in the parish. In 1983, she was transferred to St. Anthony Parochial School in Brasília as vice principal and member of St. Anthony Chorale of the parish.
Because of the marvelous timbre and quality of her voice, Sister Diva as a young girl received a pseudonym, which she still retains: “The Nightingale of Pires do Rio.” During
the second visit of His Holiness John Paul II to Brasilia, Archbishop Cardinal John Falcon asked Sister Diva to di-rect the singing of the assembly during the celebration of the Mass, together with the St. Anthony Chorale and other chorales of Brasília, under the direction of Fr. Joel Postma, OFM. The Holy Father presided at the Mass. When the solemn celebration ended, His Holiness halted the proces-sion and walked over to compliment the religious who was using her beautiful voice to serve and praise the Lord.
Possessing a special charisma, Sister Diva is a well-known figure in Pires do Rio and regularly visits family members and friends, and thus, the people of Pires do Rio have the opportunity to appreciate the happiness and affection of her cordial greetings.
In her work, known throughout Brazil, Sister Diva has ani-mated many courses in pastoral singing and has partici-pated in recording CDs, such as “Covenant of Love,” “Jesus, Most Holy Name” and others with letter and music by the liturgist Fr. Berald Joseph Hanrihan, OFM.
Sister Diva celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1983 in Anapo-lis and in Allegany with her usual joyful enthusiasm. Dur-ing January of this year, she was blessed by the celebration of her Golden Jubilee in religious life with the presence of her family and friends. On May 24, she will celebrate the event in the Motherhouse of the Congregation with the other sisters of her class.
When the wearing of the habit and veil became optional, Sister Diva chose to continue to use the veil and to wear brown and white clothing.
Today, Sister Diva lives in Admirable Mother Convent in Anapolis, occupied in a social ministry, attending the street people in a “soup kitchen” and the elderly in the home near the convent, as well as visiting the inmates in the city´s prisons to evangelize and lighten their lives with song.