Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Maria Lucia studied in the Catholic School of Norte Dame and took her degree in English and Portuguese Language and Literature at the Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and is able to read and understand Italian as well.
At the age of eighteen, while traveling with her parents in Italy, she had a strong experience of God's presence in the medieval cathedral of Perugia. Maria Lucia was eager to know more and to seek the presence of the Lord in prayer, always including books on spirituality in her reading.
She married Tony, a long-time friend, and had three sons and a daughter. Soon after the birth of her first child, Maria Lucia began a successful career in teaching languages. Specialization courses moved her up the ladder in her work, but long hours away from home began to cause an emptiness in her heart, and many questions about life's values.
When her oldest son enrolled her in a weekend retreat, she was baptized in the Spirit, and began to grow in the Lord through prayer and study of the Scriptures. She reorganized her life, giving priority to the Lord. A short time later, under a starry sky in the mountains where her father had a country house, while Maria was praying and praising the Lord, she received the gift of tongues. She felt a great anointing of the Holy Spirit at that moment.
Later Maria Lucia's husband and children were all baptized in the Holy Spirit. Now her children are married, holding responsible positions in Brazil and in the U.S. Maria Lucia's husband is responsible for the Rio de Janeiro office of the Charismatic TV ministry in Brazil led by Jesuit priest Fr. Eduardo Dougherty.
In May 1981, she traveled to the United States to visit charismatic communities before flying to Rome to attend the International Congress. A few months later, she was elected a member of the National Council of the Charismatic Renewal in Brazil. Since the former President of this Council was also the ICCRO representative at this time, Maria Lucia often accompanied him to the ICCRO Council meeting as an English-Portuguese translator. Because writing was one of her main ministries, she also prepared the Brazilian National Newsletter issued by the CCR National Office Jesus o Senhor and became one of the main contributors to the charismatic magazine "Jesus Vive."
In 1989, Maria Lucia was elected an ICCRO member for Latin America. In addition to helping on the committee which prepared the ICCRS Statutes, she has traveled to many places in Brazil and abroad, participating in congresses, giving talks, seminars, and conducting healing sessions.
In Brazil, she is a member of the seven-member CCR National Service Committee. One of her responsibilities is the publication of the National Newsletter, which is produced in the Charismatic Center Casa de Marta e Maria (House of Martha and Mary) in Rio de Janeiro, her main base. This small house belongs to Covenant Community Saron and provides support and formation to 48 prayer groups in the area. There are courses, leadership formation, prayer help, a telephone prayer line, intercession groups, the Newsletter office and a chapel.
Maria Lucia is dedicated full-time to the Lord, especially in her gift of languages. "My greatest joy is to be at the Lord's service." And about the Charismatic Renewal: "We have started to have a glimpse into what the Lord is doing in the Church through the Charismatic Renewal. New blessings are coming and we must be ready to receive them."
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