This is the story of Aparecida, an 80-year-old widow who represents thousands of benefactors of the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) around the world. Like the widow in the Gospel story, Aparecida doesn’t give to ACN what she has left over but rather offers what she gives up in order to help those most in need.
The Gospel tells the story of the poor widow who, unlike the others, placed just two small coins in the treasury and was commended by Jesus because she had given all she had and not what was left over (Mk 12:41-44).
Over two thousand years later the story retains all its significance. That same act of faith lives on today in the story of Aparecida de Oliveira, 80, a Brazilian widow who raised eight children – including one who is deaf and dumb – almost by herself. Despite her hard life, and the fact that she receives only a small monthly pension, Aparecida –named after Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil –decided to take things a step further.
After reading an account of the suffering Christians in The Mirror, ACN’s monthly magazine, she began to collect spare change in a plastic bag. Every one of those small coins she put away represented a personal sacrifice, something she denied herself so she could add to the coins in the bag.
Over time, the plastic pouch, which served as her “safe box”, slowly filled and took on a sacred meaning—something dedicated to God, as she herself describes it: “Those coins were sacred to me. No one could touch them. They were with me, but they already belonged to ACN.”
In November, Aparecida took her plastic bag, now heavy with all the coins, to the Mass for benefactors at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in São Paulo, Brazil. It was the day to make her offering. She handed it to Friar Rogério Lima, the ecclesiastical assistant of ACN’s Brazil office, and confided in him where it had come from, before taking her place back in the pews.
Fr Rogério was so moved by her witness that he shared the story with the congregation, during his sermon, explaining that though the heavy bag appeared to only contain small coins, in fact it was full of miracles.
Aparecida represents thousands of benefactors around the world who, like her, make daily sacrifices to help those in greater need through ACN. Her faith stands as a testimony of God’s constant care. She herself encourages others to trust in the Lord: “You can give away everything that Jesus places in your heart, because He will provide for all your needs”.
Thanks to donations like Aparecida’s, ACN is able to carry out more than 5,000 projects each year around the world. These gifts—large and small—are deeply meaningful, and when joined together, they help transform the lives of millions of Christians suffering persecution, discrimination, or living in deep poverty in remote parts of the world.
By Tatiana Porto & Maria Lozano.
