Bishop of Assis
Bishop Argemiro de Azevedo, C.M.F., Bishop of Assis, São Paulo, Brazil, was born on 03 December 1952 in Fernandópolis, São Paulo. He completed philosophy studies at the Claretian Seminary of Rio Claro, São Paulo, from 1975 to 1976, and theology studies at the Studium Theologicum in Curitiba, Paraná, from 1977 to 1980. He studied pedagogy at the Faculdade Claretiana de Batatais and completed a master's degree in Education at São Marcos University in São Paulo. He undertook several specializations in education and university management. He professed religious vows in the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Claretians, on 09 February 1975 and was ordained a priest in 1980 by Saint John Paul II at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Within his religious institute he exercised several functions: director of philosophy students in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, from 1982 to 1990; administrator of the Centro Universitário Claretiano de Batatais, São Paulo, from 1985 to 1994; and director and administrator of the Claretian College and Faculty of São Paulo from 1994 to 2001. Among the activities in his pastoral ministry, he was pastor of Coração de Maria parish in Batatais, São Paulo, from 1988 to 1991. He was also a member of the permanent board and finance council of the Claretian Province of Brazil and a member of the council of priests of the archdiocese of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Until his appointment, he exercised his priestly ministry in the diocese of Araçatuba with responsibility for several functions: pastor of Imaculado Coração de Maria parish in Araçatuba, São Paulo, from 2003 to 2016; judge auditor; adviser for family pastoral ministry; member of the council of priests; and member of the college of consultors. On 14 December 2016 he was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as diocesan bishop of Assis. He was ordained bishop on 25 February 2017 at the Dr. Plácido Rocha Sports Gymnasium in Araçatuba, São Paulo.