Santa Dulce dos Pobres commemorated by the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church commemorates Santa Dulce dos Pobres, also known as the ‘Good Angel of Bahia,’ on August 13. Born Maria Rita de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes in 1914 in Salvador, Bahia, she dedicated her life to serving the poor, sick, and vulnerable.

From a young age, she demonstrated a vocation for charity, eventually transforming her own home into a center for those in need. After joining the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Mother of God, she took the name Dulce in honor of her mother. Her extensive humanitarian work included providing food, medicine, and care to marginalized communities, such as the Alagados stilt village settlement.