AMERICA/COLOMBIA - The testimony of life of Sister Johana, first nun who died of coronavirus in Colombia

Cartagena (Agenzia Fides) - "Living a permanent prayer was one of the characteristics of Johana, this was deeply rooted in her, many times she also reminded us older people to pray more, and that is what we did": with these words Sister María José Alamar, superior of the Franciscan Community of the Immaculate Conception, remembers her sister, Sister Johana Rivera Ramos, 33, the first nun who died in Colombia due to the coronavirus infection on March 27.
On March 14, Sister Maria Josè, together with Sister Johana and another nun, following the indications of the preventive quarantine, were isolated in their home located in the Santa Lucia neighborhood of Cartagena. On March 15, Sister Johana showed signs of mild tonsillitis, later complicated by pneumonia, which became pulmonary edema, until the unexpected death that shocked the nuns.
As Sister María José recalls, in the testimony released by the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia sent to Fides, Sister Johana was born in San Martín de Loba, a municipality in the south of the Bolívar department, on January 10, 33 years ago. She came from a humble and very Catholic family. Before entering her religious life she had studied law at the Popular University of Cesar and theology at the provincial Seminary of San Carlos Borromeo. In 2010 she became part of the Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and in 2012 she professed her first vows. She was then sent to Peru, where she worked with a community of deaf children in Cusco, then went to Lima. In 2019 she returned to Cartagena. Since then, in the municipality of Arjona, she dedicated herself to catechesis with children and the elderly. As Sister María José recalls, a classroom for pedagogical support and strengthening of children was about to start. The religious was also linked to the archdiocese of Cartagena, where she collaborated with the pastoral care of youth and family.
Sister María José recalls that on March 25, Sister Johana should have made her perpetual profession, "unfortunately this did not happen, but we are sure that from heaven she made the final vows before the Lord". "She will always be remembered - she concludes - as a very happy person, a fighter, who gave her soul, life and heart. We will miss you, but also the children, young people and families who saw in you a great testimony of life". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 6/4/2020)

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