Family, friends, and loved ones recently gathered in Oakdene, Johannesburg south to celebrate a remarkable milestone – the 100th birthday of Clementina Lourinho, a woman whose life journey has crossed continents, tested faith, demanded courage, and inspired generations.

Early years
Born in 1926 in the small village of Odeceixe, nestled in the hills of southern Portugal, Clementina’s life began far from the city she now calls home. She was the youngest of six children born to Francisco Eduardo, born in 1876, and Maria Esperança, born in 1886.

The couple married in 1902 in Portugal and raised their children: Armando, Maria Eduarda, Aníbal, Rosália, José and Clementina, the family’s baby.

Rural life shaped Clementina’s early childhood. She remembers the scent of the sea, the beauty of the countryside, the sound of her mother singing, and the constant presence of her father.

She often describes herself as a gentle child, thoughtful and calm. She adored her father deeply and remembers him as kind, patient, and hardworking, a man who taught her honesty, compassion, and respect for others.

When Clementina was 10 years old, her life changed forever when her father passed away from cancer, a loss that struck her deeply.

After his death, her mother sent her to Beja to live with her older sister. Clementina later shared that life was never quite the same without her parents close by.

A calling to serve
From a young age, her mother instilled in her a strong sense of faith and tradition. At the age of 11, her sister sent Clementina to a girls’ convent in Beja. It was there that she began to consider a religious life.

At 15, she was sent to another convent in Porto, where she remained for four years, preparing herself for what she believed would be a lifelong monastic calling.

She later joined the religious congregation Amor de Deus, meaning Love of God, of the Benedictine Order. The Order sent her to the University of Coimbra to study nursing.

After completing her studies, the Order sent Clementina to Mozambique, where she worked at a Catholic mission in Alto Molócué, dedicating her skills to nursing and her life to the Church.

Trials and turning points in Mozambique
For Clementina, life in Mozambique was both beautiful and terrifying. Dense forests surrounded the mission, and many villages were remote, poor, and lacking even the most basic hygiene and medical care.

Wild animals often wandered close to the huts, and villagers regularly suffered from snake bites and attacks from dangerous insects and animals. Clementina and her colleagues witnessed and endured many frightening and traumatic situations.

One evening, after treating patients in a small village, Clementina was walking back to the mission with two assistants when they heard a vehicle approaching.

A Jeep stopped beside them, and a man stepped out. He recognised her and immediately warned that it was too dangerous to continue walking. He offered them a lift back to the mission hospital, but they politely refused.

Another man stepped out of the vehicle and lit his smoking pipe. It was dark, and Clementina could not see his face, but at that moment she felt something she could not explain – a powerful and unsettling connection that frightened her.

As they walked on, she asked her assistants who the second man was and whether he was “malungue”, meaning a white man. They told her they could not see his face either.

She later discovered that the man was José Eduardo Lourinho. He often visited the mission and would sometimes bring injured children from the forest to the mission hospital.

Clementina later learnt that when he lit his pipe that night, it was not to smoke, but to light the match so he could see her face.

A brave escape, marriage and motherhood
As time passed, Clementina and José began speaking more often, and a strong bond formed between them. At the same time, Clementina was nearing the final stage of her religious life, a sacred commitment in which she would symbolically marry Christ and receive a wedding ring as a sign of lifelong devotion to the Church. Once taken, the vow could never be undone.

The Bishop of Beira was expected to come to Nauela to perform the ceremony, but Clementina felt uncertain in her heart.

She felt she was not ready for such a permanent commitment and repeatedly asked for more time. Before the ceremony could take place, José convinced her to leave the Catholic mission.

What followed was a daring and dangerous escape. Clementina’s passport was in a safe in the mission office, guarded by priests and nuns.

One night, she broke into the office and took her passport, so there would be no records of her. She owned no clothes of her own; only her religious habit.

When the time came, José threw a small pebble at her window. She climbed out, and together they ran through the forest. Dry leaves covered the ground, making loud noises that alerted the dogs, which began barking.

Suddenly, priests emerged with rifles, believing there were thieves or wild animals. Clementina begged José to leave her behind, but he refused.

Vehicles began searching for them, believing someone kidnapped her. José, who knew the forest well, drove off the road, switched off the lights, and hid among the trees. The searchers passed by without seeing them. The next day, José took Clementina to his uncle’s home.

Clementina was 26 years old when she left the mission in December 1952. On January 14, 1953, she married José, who was 18 months older than her.

They left Gurue and settled in Quelimane, Mozambique. On January 1, 1954, Clementina became a mother with the birth of her son, Álvaro Jorge. In 1956, her daughter, Maria Eduarda, was born.

The family later lived for four years in Nampula, where Clementina worked as a home economics teacher at Liceu Vasco da Gama. She later worked for Pendre and Sousa, which became a stepping stone to a long and steady career in office work. She retired at the age of 62.

In 1965, José and Clementina moved to Johannesburg, beginning a new chapter in South Africa. Sadly, her beloved husband passed away far too young, at just 53 years old.

Since then, Clementina has lived with her daughter, for whom she remains deeply grateful for years of love and care.

In 1977, Clementina became a grandmother for the first time. Today, she has eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She is known as a loving grandmother, but also a firm disciplinarian. Her grandchildren affectionately call her ‘Robocop’, a nickname she accepts with a smile.

A legacy of love
Reflecting on her long life, Clementina shared: “After many years of searching, I found true peace by surrendering my heart to Jesus Christ. From that moment, my suffering, both physical and spiritual, disappeared.

“As I celebrate 100 years of life, I look back with deep gratitude for my parents, my husband, my children, and the generations that followed.

“I have lived through joy and sorrow, faith and doubt, but through it all, God has never left me. The Lord has done great things for me, and I rejoice.”

Her family paid heartfelt tributes. Her son, Jorge Lourinho, said: “Mom, your strength and love have been the foundation of our family. I cherish every moment spent with you.”

Her daughter, Eduarda Barnadas, added: “Mom, your kindness and wisdom have shaped my life in countless ways.”

Grandson Paulo shared: “To the grandmother of your dreams. My grandmother was my best friend from the moment I could remember. We would play games like hide and seek. Maybe it was more like calling her from a random spot in the house so she could find me.

“I would like to think that after the first dozen times the anxiety of a two-year-old subsided, but we had fun. We used to dance to Portuguese music from her time. I remember a lot of laughter and happiness with my grandmother.

“She would always make me my favourite breakfast choice, which was an egg in the window. It became my favourite because that’s what she used to always make.

“That is actually a representation of her – soft in the middle and fluffy on the outside. When she used to make it, you could taste vovo’s love every time. More importantly, my grandmother was always there for me whenever I needed her.”

Clementina shared a message to her family: “To my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their extended families, you are the greatest blessing of my long life.

“Each one of you carries a part of my heart, my history and my faith. May you always walk with courage, kindness, and love. May you cherish one another and remember that you come from a family built on faith and grace. Love you always.”

To mark this extraordinary milestone, Clementina also received special recognition from her birthplace. The Parish Council of Odeceixe (Junta de Freguesia de Odeceixe), the local executive body representing the village within the municipality of Aljezur, Portugal, sent her a letter congratulating her on reaching her 100th birthday.

The message honoured her remarkable life’s journey and acknowledged the pride felt by her home village in celebrating one of its own.