Andyara has a deep love for literature and the humanities. She grew up in Campinas with her six siblings before moving to São Paulo. Once settled there, her mother started working in a dressmaking workshop, where she met a friend who invited her to an Opus Dei centre. She attended a meditation and felt an immediate connection: “This is for me.” Eventually, she learned that there were activities for students, and Andyara and her young sister started attending. During her teenage years, however, she drifted away, enjoying nightlife and entertainment.
Despite those years of independence, she always felt that Opus Dei held a special significance for her. At nineteen, she decided to formally join the Work. “Later, when you look back, you see that it was worth it. It’s wonderful! It’s a great adventure!” Her path within Opus Dei led her to many enriching experiences, including two years in Rome, where she lived alongside people from different cultures.
For me, Opus Dei is my place in the world. It’s where I exist, where I flourish.
One of the pivotal moments in her life came when she was asked whether she would like to help begin Opus Dei in Lebanon. Although the proposal took her by surprise, she decided to accept it. “If they thought of asking me, it’s because they believe it will work... and if it doesn’t, I’ll go back to Brazil.” She spent twenty-four years in the country, facing situations of war, attacks and cultural change, while also forming close bonds within the local community.
In 2005, her life took an unexpected turn with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Concerned about the local hospital system, she was transferred to Spain for treatment. Her companions supported her at every step, even when she lost her hair after chemotherapy: “You’ll look beautiful! Look, we’ve already done fittings for your wigs; you’re going to look wonderful…”
When she returned to Lebanon, she faced yet another crisis: the 2006 war, which forced her to evacuate on a warship. During the evacuation, she kept her spirits and sense of humour, recalling her interview with the BBC: “I’m fine. I’ve just finished chemotherapy treatment, and now I have to flee here on this warship... but it’s all great.”
For Andyara, Opus Dei has been her place of growth and personal fulfilment: “It’s where I exist, where I flourish.” Throughout her life, she has learned that both marriage and celibacy involve difficulties, but that every obstacle can become an opportunity for deeper self-knowledge and personal growth.