Opus Dei

Abi grew up in Perth, in western Australia. There she studied Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and developed a lot of hobbies, which, however, did not fulfil her completely: “So, I had all this time and had all this money and all these opportunities. But I felt like I was wasting my time... Well, not wasting my time, but wasting my life!”

Inma lives in Valencia and is the second of seven siblings. She was an assistant numerary of Opus Dei for a time. After a period of reflection and prayer, she realized that her place was elsewhere: “It was very hard for me because I love the assistant numerary vocation deeply.”

"Sisu" is a Finnish word that translates to perseverance, courage or determination. Ilona is a good example of this concept: born in a country where Catholics are a minority, she dreams of changing the world through her work as an academic. "I tackle polarisation from a statistical perspective, with data. Not everything is black and white," she says.

My name is Juana Lidia Quispe Maita. I am from the community of Copachilaia. From my community, you can see Lake Titicaca, which is 4000 metres above sea level, and I am an assistant numerary of Opus Dei. I am here for a while looking after my mother, who is alone. I accompany her, take care of her, and help her with whatever she needs. And from time to time I go to the city.

Pedro is an architect specialising in NGOs. He is currently studying for a master's degree in Urban Economics. He will marry Ine next May. The path of his vocational discernment brought him closer to Opus Dei, an institution to which he belonged for a few years, and which he remembers with gratitude: "I don't regret being who I am today, and I am who I am today because of the whole journey I've been on," he says.

Carmen is a supply chain manager at a supermarket and lives with her family in Madrid. "What I've learned from working has helped me to raise my children." She and her husband, try to instil in them an attitude of solidarity and acceptance, which is why they participate in a family volunteering programme run out of Tajamar, the school where they study: "We want our children to be open to all realities, in every sphere, to learn respect and hospitality."

Raquel Escudier, a mother of two from San Fernando (Spain), sought peace and balance. Her life took a dramatic turn when a Buddhist lama told her she needed to go to Mass every day.

"Do you realize that you're like Jesus? More like him than other children: you have an adoptive father too," Mar and Andrés tell their adopted children. Their explanation of how God changed their plans to form their family is both natural and supernatural.

Brenda is a doctor in Kent who met Opus Dei while at university. In her day-to-day life, she says, what her patients often need is a conversation that brings them closer to God. This stories was filmed for the 75th anniversary of Opus Dei in Great Britain.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Opus Dei in England, we are publishing a series of lives transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. Julia, a supernumary of Opus Dei, was born in France, discovered God in Ireland, met St. Josemaría in Mexico, and now lives in London.