Sister M. Brigita Švecová

 “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.” 
(Phlp 1:21)

In the spirit of Christian hope, we announce that
Sister M. Brigita – Zuzana Švecová
Handed her life to her Creator on October 14, 2024,
at the age of 87 and the 53^rd year of her Profession.

Sister Brigita, Zuzana Švecová, was born on June 1, 1938, in Porúbka,
district Bardejov. She grew up in a family with her three siblings:
Anna, Maria, and Andrew. Her parents, Andrew and Johana, were peasants.

After graduation, she worked at home because they had a large property.
In 1960 the property was nationalized by the state,
therefore she was not needed to work at home.
She started to work in the Hospital in Bardejov, at surgeon department.
Meanwhile she attended nursing school. In 1969,
she left work and study and entered
the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer in Spišský Štvrtok.
In November she became Novice and received the religious name: Sr. Brigita.
She worked as a nurse aid in the Institutions for physically
and mentally ill – first in Rohovské Rybky (three years)
and Spišský Štvrtok (two years).
On March 19, 1972, she made her First Profession in Velehrad.

Because of the Communist regime,
Sr. Brigita had to put aside her religious habit, in 1974.
For two years she worked in the Hospital in Poprad.
Then she worked in the Institution for physically and mentally ill in Straník.
Only in 1981, she made her Final Profession in Vrícko.

In 1988, when the political situation in Slovakia settled,
Sr. Brigita could wear her religious habit.
Her other workplaces were the Caritas houses in Hronský Beňadik and Rúbaň,
where our Sisters lived.

As a retiree, in 1997, she was transferred
to the Community in Rimavská Sobota.
Although she did not know how to cook,
with zeal she started to cook for the Sisters.
She showed interest about parish activities and easy connected with the people.
However, she stayed there only for a short time
because in the same year, she was sent to the Community in Staré Hory,
where she took care of a Father – Redemptorist, after his car accident,
and to help with work in the Basilica
where the pilgrimages are held every First Saturday.

The next 11 years, Sr. Brigita spent in the Community in Spišská Nová Ves.
Her final place was the Community in Raslavice where
she spent 15 years in the circle of her fellow Sisters.
Here she daily brought to God her prayers
and sacrifices and there in silence God called her to Himself.

We thank our Sister Brigita for every sign of her love and help.
Thanks for her advice and good example.
Thanks for silently bearing the cross
and sacrifice by which she connected heaven and earth.

May she rest in peace.