Rolanda Macedo was the beloved wife of Paulo Sergio Macedo—Director of Communication, Religious Liberty, and Public Affairs at the Inter-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists and Secretary General of International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR).
Rolanda Meneses Oliveira Macedo came into this world, in Setúbal, on January 3, 1975. As the younger of two sisters, her life was always anchored in family, devotion, and a deep, quiet joy.
When she was just thirteen years old, Rolanda decided to surrender her heart to Jesus, stepping into the baptismal waters. It was a commitment that would shape every single day that followed.
At the tender age of fifteen, an unexpected encounter during a simple volleyball activity at a youth camp sparked a connection that would blossom into a remarkable lifelong journey. From their first meeting, Rolanda and Paulo nurtured a love that stood the test of time. They were united in marriage on September 10, 2000, and, for the next twenty-six years, their relationship flourished as they walked hand in hand through life’s joys and challenges, bound together by love, faith, and devotion. Six years later, their happiness was further enriched with the birth of their only daughter, Maria, who now follows in her mother’s footsteps of compassion and healing as a second-year medical student.
Rolanda’s professional life was a reflection of who she was at her core. As a scrub nurse, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to the care of others, making compassion and service the defining purpose of her life. In a world increasingly shaped by digital connections, Rolanda chose a different path. She never maintained a social media presence, preferring instead the richness of genuine, face-to-face relationships and the gift of being fully present for those around her.
Perhaps it was this rare commitment to authentic human connection that allowed her to leave such a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. She was deeply loved, respected, and appreciated for her gentle spirit, her selfless care, and the warm, radiant smile she shared so freely. Through countless acts of kindness, both great and small, she touched lives in ways that will not be forgotten.
During the funeral service on Tuesday, June 23, Paulo delivered a heartfelt and deeply moving tribute to his beloved wife. He described Rolanda as a woman who, “through the depth of her character and the beautiful simplicity of her relationships, faithfully embodied Christ’s call to be the Light of the World”. “Her light shone through a smile that was always ready to care for others,” he shared tenderly. “For us at home, for her parents and family, for her friends, and for her patients.”
This was the message left to the countless colleagues and friends who attended her funeral, which she wished to be a testimony to the love she felt from God and her joyful hope in Jesus’s promises.
Rolanda’s faith found beautiful expression in her commitment to her church family. At the Setúbal Seventh-day Adventist Church, she faithfully invested her time, talents, and love in the service of Sabbath School, Health, and Family Ministries.
Through every trial and challenge, Rolanda remained anchored in the unwavering hope of the resurrection, holding firmly to the promise of Jesus:
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.” — John 11:25
With this blessed assurance in her heart, Rolanda Oliveira Macedo closed her eyes for the last time, resting peacefully in the certainty of Christ’s promise. Those who loved her take comfort in the hope that, on the glorious morning of the resurrection, she will awaken to the voice of her Savior and be reunited with those she cherished.
