Bishop of Jardim
Friar Pedro Cesario Palma was born on August 15, 1961, in Lavrinha, in the municipality of Pinhalão (PR). He is the son of José Palma and Maria de Jesus Palma. He entered the seminary in 1977 in Uraí (PR); received the Capuchin habit on February 2, 1987, in Almirante Tamandaré (PR); and made his temporary vows the following year. On April 7, 1991, he professed perpetual vows in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He was ordained a priest on February 22, 1992, by Dom Conrado Walter, then Bishop of Jacarezinho (PR). Within the Capuchin Province of Paraná and Santa Catarina, Friar Pedro Cesario served as a popular missionary; a professor of Philosophy and Theology; director of the Philosophy Seminary; master of aspirants, postulants, and post-novices; parochial vicar, parish priest, local superior, secretary for initial and ongoing formation, and pastoral secretary; and served five times as a member of the Provincial Government (twice as councilor, once as provincial vicar, and twice as provincial minister). He is currently the parish priest of Saint Francis of Assis Parish in the city of Umuarama (PR) and a member of the Economic Council and the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Umuarama (PR). In addition to his studies in Philosophy and Theology, Friar Pedro holds a postgraduate degree in Philosophy from PUC-Minas, a master's degree in Fundamental Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, and is a journalist.