By Sr. Sharon Anne Legere

Sisters Germana and Armanda are the two eldest of five children. Born on the island of Faial in the Azores (Portugal), they immigrated to the U.S.A. with their family in 1967.

One Saturday while washing the dishes after the family meal, Germana listened to a radio program produced by the Daughters of St. Paul. It spoke of the vocation to religious life and announced a day of retreat for young women. Germana felt in her heart that she must go. Her mother accompanied her and Armanda to the Sisters’ convent. This visit marked the beginning of a great spiritual adventure for them both. In the summer of 1970, Germana entered the Daughters of St. Paul; Armanda joined her a year later. Sr. Germana and Sr. Armanda are sisters and Sisters!

From the very first days in the convent, even the newest members are immersed in the community’s life of prayer and mission. Germana began her apostolic training in what was then called "the typesetting department," one of the initial stages in the making of a book. After the profession of her vows she became manager of that department.

Later she carried out the communications mission in the convents of Anchorage, AK; Honolulu, HI; and Bridgeport, CT. This meaningful time of communicating the Gospel message to people was followed by a return to the house of Boston, where Sr. Germana was appointed formator of the pre-postulants.

The next stop in Sr. Germana’s adventure was Rome, Italy, where she spent four years studying at the Institute of Psychology at the Gregorian University. The experience of living in the city of the Pope, with its flavor of universality, history, art, and spirituality, rooted her more deeply in her love for the Church—in both its human and divine dimensions.

Back in Boston, Sr. Germana returned to the assignment of formator, but this time of the novices and then eventually of the junior professed Sisters. Since 1999 she has been the Provincial Superior of the North American Province.

Sr. Armanda began her apostolic training in the printing department and worked there for a total of 14 years. The Founder, Father Alberione, figuratively referred to the printing presses as "pulpits" of today. From this "pulpit" a Sister-printer "preaches" to many people through the books that come off the presses.

The years spent in the printing department of Boston led to another assignment—this time on the opposite U.S. coast. Sr. Armanda served as local superior in the convent of San Diego. During that time, and in subsequent years, her artistic ability and "printer’s" eye for color, detail and coordination were of invaluable assistance to her in planning and designing several Pauline Book & Media Centers. Her many years of experience also prepared her with the orga-nizational skills needed for training and forming our lay employees. For six years, she also served in the leadership of the province as a Provincial Councilor.

Of her mission Sr. Armanda says: "If I wanted to name one aspect of the mission I am most attracted to, I would choose the Book Center. What I find personally fulfilling is to present Jesus to those who come into the Centers. I communicate the Gospel through the witness of my life and the words I say. Most often, however, the good done will be the direct result of the book read, the video watched, or the song heard. The purpose of the Center is for people to take the message of Jesus away with them."

The initial trip from the Azores was only the beginning of many other travels in the service of the Gospel for the Santos sisters. Life in the Daughters of St. Paul has brought them to other places as well: for Sr. Germana, to the island of Guam in the Pacific and Kenya in Africa, to Italy, England, Portugal and France. For Sr. Armanda: to the island of Guam, to Italy, Portugal, Korea, Japan, England, mainland China, Brazil and Venezuela.

Both sisters seek to live what Pope John Paul II once said: "The Word of God is worthy of all your efforts. To spread it by word and example is a great mission, and this is your mission—today and tomorrow and for the rest of your lives."