Bishop of Registro
Manoel Ferreira dos Santos Júnior, M.S.C., was born on March 21, 1967, in Itapetininga, in the diocese of the same name, in the State of São Paulo. He pursued his studies in Philosophy at São Francisco University in São Paulo (1987–1989) and in Theology at the Pontifical Faculty *Nossa Senhora da Assunção* in São Paulo (1991–1994), where he subsequently obtained a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology (1998–2002). He also completed a course in Spiritual Direction at the Salesian University Center of São Paulo (2006). He made his religious profession in the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart on February 2, 1991, and was ordained a priest on January 7, 1995. Within his Congregation, he held the following positions: Rector of the Pre-Novitiate and the Theology Seminary; Assistant Novice Master; Coordinator of a rehabilitation center for drug addicts; and Vice-Provincial and Provincial Superior for two terms (2011–2017). Furthermore, he served as Parochial Vicar and later as Parish Priest-Rector of the *Sagrado Coração de Jesus* Shrine in São Paulo; and as Parish Priest of *São Benedito* in São Paulo, *Santa Rita de Cássia* in Pirassununga (Diocese of Limeira), and *Nossa Senhora da Soledade* in Delfim Moreira (Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre). He is currently the Parish Priest-Rector of the *Nossa Senhora Aparecida do Sul* Shrine in the Diocese of Itapetininga.