Archbishop of Aracajú
Josafá Menezes da Silva was born on January 2, 1959, in the city of Salinas da Margarida, in the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia. After completing his primary and secondary education in his hometown and studying at the Seminary of Bahia, he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of Salvador (1983) and a Bachelor's degree in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1987). He subsequently earned a Licentiate in Theology (1999) and a degree in Theological Anthropology (2001) from the Pontifical Lateran University. He was ordained a priest on May 14, 1989, and incardinated into the clergy of the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia; he then served as Pastor of the "São João Batista" parish (1990–1996); Vice-Rector (1990–1996) and later Rector (2002–2005) of the "Santa Terezinha de Lisieux" propaedeutic seminary; Vicar Forane of the "Rio Vermelho e Federação" deanery (1992–1996); Assistant Treasurer of the Archdiocese (1995–1996); Coordinator of the Archdiocesan Theological Commission (2002–2005); and professor of theology at the Catholic University of Salvador (1989–2005), the Social Institute of Bahia (1988–1996), and the specialization course in Family Sciences at the Pontifical "John Paul II" Institute (2002–2005). On January 12, 2005, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Gummi and Auxiliary Bishop of São Salvador da Bahia, receiving episcopal ordination on March 10 of that same year.