Bishop of Lages
Monsignor Gilson was born on September 28, 1973, in Florianópolis (SC). After beginning studies in Physical Sciences at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, he proceeded to the Propaedeutic Seminary of the Archdiocese of Florianópolis (SC). He studied Philosophy at the Educational Foundation of Brusque (1995–1997) and Theology at the Theological Institute of Santa Catarina (1998–2001). He holds a master's degree in Biblical Exegesis from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His diaconal ordination took place on September 1, 2002, at São Joaquim Parish in Garopaba. His priestly ordination followed on December 8 of the same year at São Judas Tadeu Parish in São José. During his priestly ministry, he served as an assistant formator at the Azambuja (SC) Archdiocesan Minor and Propaedeutic Seminary; vicar of the Azambuja Shrine; archdiocesan coordinator of the Ministry of Consolation and Hope; and Defender of the Bond and Promoter of Justice at the Regional Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Florianópolis. During his doctoral studies, he assisted at the Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo parish in Allumiere, in the Diocese of Civitavecchia. He also served as a *Fidei Donum* priest at the Santi Giovanni Battista e Leonardo parish in Tarquinia, also in the Diocese of Civitavecchia. Since 2016, he has been a full professor of biblical subjects at the Theological Institute of Santa Catarina. He also teaches Latin at the Propaedeutic Seminary of the Archdiocese of Florianópolis and serves as rector of the Convívio Emaús Archdiocesan Theology Seminary, also within the Archdiocese of Florianópolis. He has served as pastor of the Santa Cruz and Nossa Senhora da Glória parishes and is a member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. Dom Guilherme – new bishop emeritus: Born on August 5, 1950, in São Sebastião, in the municipality of São Carlos (SC), Dom Guilherme entered the Seminary of the Missionaries of the Holy Family at the age of twelve and a half in Maravilha (SC), where he completed the admission stage in 1963. He studied Philosophy at the University of Passo Fundo (RS) from 1972 to 1974; He completed his novitiate in Catuípe (RS) in 1975 and studied theology at PUC Porto Alegre from 1976 to 1979. His priestly ordination took place in his hometown on December 2, 1979. Prior to his episcopal consecration, he served as Rector and formator during various stages of the formation of the Missionaries of the Holy Family and, on two occasions, as a parish priest in Jataí (GO). From 1982 to 1984, he ministered to the towns of Aparecida do Rio Doce, Itarumã, Itajá, and Lagoa Santa, all in the state of Goiás. Dom Guilherme was appointed bishop on May 19, 1999, and chose the motto "That all may have life" (John 10:10). He was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Ipameri (GO) on August 7, 1999. Within the CNBB’s Central-West Region, he served as the liaison bishop for the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), the Conference of Religious of Goiás (CRB), and the Liturgy Commission, as well as the liaison for the Youth Pastoral Ministry sector; he also served as secretary of the CNBB Central-West Region for three years. At the national level of the CNBB, he was a member of the Commission for the Joint Effort to Overcome Poverty and Hunger; chair of the working group drafting the document "The Church and the Agrarian Issue in Brazil at the Beginning of the 21st Century"; and a member—and twice chair—of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for the Service of Charity, Justice, and Peace (which was renamed the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for Socio-Transformative Action during his second term, serving from 2011 to 2019). He was also a member of the CNBB Economic Council and served on the Episcopal Commission for the renovation of the CNBB headquarters. He was installed as the fifth diocesan bishop of Lages on March 17, 2018.