Bishop of Amparo
Luiz Gonzaga Fechio was born on December 4, 1965, in Matão, in the Diocese of São Carlos, State of São Paulo. He completed his primary education in his hometown (1973–1980) and his secondary education at the La Salle Diocesan Center in São Carlos (1981–1983). He pursued philosophy studies at the São Carlos Seminary in the diocese of the same name (1984–1986) and theology studies at the Theological Faculty of the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (1987–1990). Furthermore, he obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty *Nossa Senhora da Assunção* in the Archdiocese of São Paulo. He was ordained a priest on December 14, 1990, and incardinated into the Diocese of São Carlos, where he subsequently held the following positions: parochial vicar and later parish priest of Santo Antônio de Vila Prado (1991–1992); parish priest of Nossa Senhora das Dores in Bariri (1993–1998); rector of the *Nossa Senhora do Patrocínio* Propaedeutic Seminary in Jaú (1998–2008); and rector of the *João Paulo II* Major Seminary and parish priest of Santos Anjos in São Carlos (2008–2010). He was appointed Titular Bishop of Puzia in Byzacena and Auxiliary Bishop of Belo Horizonte on January 19, 2011, and received episcopal ordination on March 19 of that same year.