Bishop of Ruy Barbosa
Estevam Santos Silva Filho was born on April 10, 1968, in Vitória da Conquista, in the archdiocese of the same name, in the State of Bahia. He pursued philosophy studies at the *Instituto Filosófico Nossa Senhora das Vitórias* in Vitória da Conquista and theology studies at the *Instituto Coração Eucarístico de Jesus* in Belo Horizonte. Furthermore, he specialized in Communication at the Pontifical Xavierian University (*Pontificia Universidad Javeriana*) in Bogotá, Colombia, and attended a course in Social Communication at SEPAC/USF in São Paulo. He also participated in a course for Ignatian spiritual directors in Itaici (São Paulo). He was ordained a priest on June 9, 1995. During his priestly ministry, he served as parish priest in several parishes of the Archdiocese of Vitória da Conquista: *Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro* in Iguaí (1995–1997); *Senhor do Bonfim e Santa Rita* in Planalto (1998–2001); and *Divino Espírito Santo* in Poções (2000–2001). He also served as spiritual director for the following seminaries: the Propaedeutic Seminary in Itapetinga, Archdiocese of Vitória da Conquista (1995); the Major Seminary of Philosophy in Vitória da Conquista (1996–1997 and from 2009 onwards); and the Major Seminary of Theology in Ilhéus (1998–2008). Additionally, he holds various roles at the archdiocesan level: member of the Council of Formators (since 1995); member of the College of Consultors (since 2000); member of the Presbyteral Council (since 2000); and ecclesiastical advisor for the Archdiocesan Communication Ministry and the Youth Sector (since 2011). At the time of his appointment, he was serving as parish priest of *Nossa Senhora das Candeias* parish, archdiocesan bursar, and formator at the Philosophy Seminary of the Archdiocese of Vitória da Conquista.