Archbishop of Maringá
Severino Clasen, O.F.M., was born on June 10, 1954, in Petrolândia, in the Diocese of Rio do Sul, State of Santa Catarina. He pursued his philosophy studies at the Franciscan Institute of Philosophy in Curitiba (Paraná) and his theology studies at the Franciscan Institute of Theology in Petrópolis (Rio de Janeiro). Furthermore, he attended specialization and continuing education courses on Franciscan Sources in Assisi (Italy) and on Sacred Scripture in the Holy Land. On April 18, 1981, he made his religious profession in the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) and was subsequently ordained a priest on July 10, 1982. During his ministry, he held the following pastoral roles: Parochial Vicar of Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Concórdia (Santa Catarina); Guardian and Parish Priest of Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Porto União (Santa Catarina); Secretary of the Province’s Vocations Sector; Assistant to the Saint Clare Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order; and Parish Priest and Rector of the São Francisco de Assis Parish-Shrine in São Paulo. On May 11, 2005, he was appointed Bishop of Araçuaí and received episcopal ordination on June 25, 2005. On July 6, 2011, he was transferred to Caçador. Within the Brazilian Bishops' Conference, he served as President of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for the Laity and is currently President of the "Sul 4" Regional Conference, which encompasses the ecclesiastical jurisdictions of the State of Santa Catarina.