PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Alanna Cristina Bezerra said she first heard the call to chastity directly from God himself when she was 20 years old.
Though she had always known the depth of God’s “merciful and forgiving” love, this call felt different — clear and unmistakable.
Without hesitation, she said she responded, taking her first steps toward a life of dedication by making her temporary vows of chastity.
“When I felt that, when I experienced it, I was like ‘that’s it, I need this love,’ ” Bezerra said. “As much as I was talking to younger adults or people who are far from the Church and didn’t know about the love of God, who never experienced his love in this powerful way … I felt like I’m created for this — to share the love of God with others.”
Now, 10 years later, Bezerra joined Bárbara Tavares de Freitas, who has also previously made her temporary vows of celibacy, and had their life of virginity consecrated by Bishop Robert Brennan during a Mass at San Damiano Mission Church in Williamsburg on Sept. 14.
Consecrated virginity is one of the oldest forms of consecrated life in the Church, dating back to 110 AD. The ancient vocation is lived by women who commit to chastity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, dedicating their lives to Christ and the Church.
Unlike nuns, consecrated virgins do not live in religious communities or wear habits. They are laypeople, often working secular jobs, participating in parish life, and living independently, while maintaining a deep spiritual commitment.
Both women are members of New York’s Shalom Catholic Community — the local branch of the international private association founded in 1982 in Brazil and recognized by the Vatican. The group is “made up of men and women who, in diverse lifestyles present in the Church, engage in a community and missionary life,” according to its website.
Shalom Catholic Communities are present in dozens of countries worldwide. The New York branch, located in the Diocese of Brooklyn, has been in existence for five years and has 10 members, according to its coordinator, Father Cristiano Pinheiro.
Just like Bezerra, Tavares de Freitas said that after hearing a call from God, she decided earlier this year that it was time to receive her consecration, saying that it was an important step to “accomplish God’s promises” in her life.
“After a while of walking with God in the [Shalom] Community, I realized that I want to give my life totally to serve the mission, the community, the Church, the needs of humankind, and I also realized through the way I was feeling and my calling — that I would like to be willing to do everything and have time for the Church’s needs,” Tavares de Freitas said.
Bezerra said her commitment to chastity is a way to bring heaven to Earth.
“I feel like this vow attracts heaven deeper into my life,” Bezerra said. “I hope that I become this heavenly sign to other people in my humanity, in the midst of weaknesses and sins, but also by the grace of God and his heavenly love that comes onto Earth.”
Father Pinheiro said Bezerra and Tavares de Freitas are the first from the local community to receive their consecration to chastity. He said he was overjoyed — but not surprised — to learn that both women decided to do so.
“Watching them live out their ministry, it’s clear their love for God is reflected in everything they do,” Father Pinheiro said. “I’m very happy because I saw the growth of both of them in their life of service, in their surrender to God.
“The two of them are very prayerful young women, so they are truly in love with Christ.”
According to the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins, there are 309 consecrated virgins in the United States on record as of 2025.
After receiving her consecration from Bishop Brennan, Tavares de Freitas said she now looks forward to one day entering heaven. In the meantime, she hopes to reveal glimpses of heaven to those around her. She likened her mission to the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John, where a woman relays her conversation with Jesus at Jacob’s well.
“With this passage, I understood my whole life, nourished by God’s grace, and also my desire to be this person where others can see God, even through my weaknesses. … They can see my relationship with God,” Tavares de Freitas said. “I am in dialogue with God all the time. I think they can see through my celibacy to the kingdom of heaven.”