Jillian, Singapore: “I changed the way I see things”
Jillian is 26 years old. The joy she saw in others drew her to discover her own vocation in Opus Dei. “I see the world through new eyes, finding God in my daily work and simple acts of love.”
Mirian, Brazil: "Like a GPS, God is recalculating your path"
Mirian, from Brazil, is 34 years old and is a gynaecologist and obstetrician. She is married and has a three-month-old son. She was an associate of Opus Dei for a time, until, after a period of reflection in which she always felt supported and understood, she saw that her path lay elsewhere.
Francisco, Chile: “Is all this for me, or is it meant to be shared?”
At the age of 40, Francisco (Chile) paused to reflect on his life, pondering whether his life experience and everything he had received was meant to be kept for himself or shared with others. The question led him to discover a path of service and the conviction that every step he had taken had prepared him for the next one.
Gustavo, Spain: "God's plans for me were more creative than my own"
Gustavo was going to be a notary, but thanks in part to his vocation to Opus Dei, he discovered that his true calling was in the world of communications. He has worked with brands such as Warner Music, L’Oréal, Vocento, and Bankinter, and with artists and public figures including Alejandro Sanz, Chambao, Miguel Bosé… and Pope Benedict XVI. He was the one who convinced the Vatican to open a Twitter account, and he says the happiest day of his life was when @pontifex sent out his first tweet.
Laura, Spain: "I learned that listening to my heart meant listening to God"
Laura is 31 and lives in Valencia, Spain. She learned to pray when she was very young, and that shaped the rhythm and substance of her decisions. For her, responding to her vocation as a numerary was the beginning of a path she now walks in her work an administrator in Opus Dei, a role in which she combines her passion for creativity, communication, and care.
Dani, Bolivia: "Who doesn't have demands in life?!"
Dani describes herself as a very competitive person who always aspired to more in life. She still sets high goals for herself, but now her perspective has changed: "Opus Dei has totally changed my life, because it's given me a different perspective on why we are here in the world."
Renata, Brazil: "God is calling me in the world, and that's where I find my vocation"
Biomedical scientist Renata Silvestre describes how her vocation is intertwined with her work in advanced cell therapy, battling cancer while living the spirit of Opus Dei in her daily life. In her story, science and faith are both sources of inspiration and reasons for commitment.
Mónica, Bolivia: "Every change in life is a new opportunity to grow"
Mónica was born in Cochabamba, in a family that represented "the rainbow of Bolivia," since her father was from La Paz and her mother from Santa Cruz. She studied at the German School and later in Buenos Aires, where she graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from UBA. Subsequently, she studied philosophy and earned a master’s degree in teaching it. She has been involved in development projects and teaching, and tells us that her specialty is "change."
Ana Cecilia, Brazil: "I discovered that my dream could be multiplied"
From her childhood in Curitiba to her commitment to Opus Dei, Ana Cecília has travelled a path of self-discovery. Through medicine and her relationship with God, she found her purpose: to transform lives and fulfil her dream of motherhood by serving others.
Eva, Spain: "I discovered that my vocation is to turn houses into homes"
I am Eva Burniol, from the Horta neighbourhood in Barcelona, and I am an assistant numerary. I am 34 years old, and I love the mountains, going for runs... It helps me unwind, it relaxes me... I really enjoy nature... I like reading, writing, going out with friends... Everything related to fashion, I don’t know, keeping up with everything. I never seem to have enough time!