Bishop Wilmar Santin

Born on October 21, 1952, in Nova Londrina, but registered in Paranavaí, PR. Son of Arlindo and Ester Maria Santin. He attended primary school at the Arthur Bernardes School in Nova Londrina (1960–63). He completed his preparatory and middle school studies at the Immaculate Conception Seminary of the Carmelite Fathers in the Graciosa district of Paranavaí, PR (1964–68). He was a student in the first class of the Saint John of the Cross Seminary in Paranavaí. He completed the Classical track (high school) at the Paranavaí State School (1969–71). In 1972, he entered the novitiate in Curitiba and professed his first vows on February 2, 1973. He studied Philosophy at the Federal University of Paraná in Curitiba (1973–76) and Theology at the *Studium Theologicum* in Curitiba, PR (1977–80). He earned a master's degree in Church History (1998–2001) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and is a doctoral candidate in Church History at the same university. He was ordained a priest on December 8, 1979, in Nova Londrina, PR. On December 8, 2010, he was appointed the second Bishop of the Prelature of Itaituba by Pope Benedict XVI. His episcopal ordination took place on March 19, 2011, and he took office on April 10, 2011. - From 1980 to 1983, he worked as a formator for Carmelite juniorists in Curitiba and as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Conception Parish in the Fanny neighborhood of Curitiba, PR. - In February 1983, he was transferred to the Carmelite Friary in São Paulo to work as a formator for postulants and juniorists. - In 1985, he was appointed pastor of Saint Sebastian Parish in Paranavaí. - In January 1990, he was elected Provincial Commissary of the Carmelites of Paraná, and was re-elected in 1993. - In September 1995, he was elected General Councilor of the Carmelite Order for Latin America, holding this position until September 2001. - In May 2002, he returned to Curitiba, where he worked as a formator and pastor (2002–05). - In 2005, he was appointed Prior of the Saint Albert International College of the Carmelite Fathers in Rome, a role he held until September 2008. - He returned to Brazil in October 2008 and was assigned to the new Carmelite community in Manaus in March 2009. - He served as parochial vicar at the Saint Lazarus and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes in Manaus, Amazonas (2009–2010) and as a Church History professor at ITEPES (Institute of Theology, Pastoral Care, and Higher Education of the Amazon). - He was appointed the second Bishop of the Prelature of Itaituba, Pará, by Pope Benedict XVI on December 8, 2010. - Ordained a bishop on March 19, 2011, in Paranavaí, Paraná, he took office on April 10, 2011. - He participated in a course for new bishops organized by the CNBB (National Conference of Bishops of Brazil) in Brasília in August 2011. - He participated in a course for new bishops organized by the Congregation for Bishops in Rome in September 2011; on that occasion, he had a personal meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. - He was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Itaituba, Pará, on December 20, 2011. - He was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Nova Londrina, Paraná, on April 12, 2012.