I am Brazilian from Curitiba, which is the capital of the state of Paraná, in the southern part of Brazil. We have nice weather all year round, and very good traditional foods (which I still get to enjoy here in Rome, as I live at a Brazilian residence for priests). I grew up in a very Catholic family, and ever since my first communion day, I felt very close to Jesus in the Eucharist, and I have received him daily since that very day. Mary also played a huge part in my vocation. I was born on November 27, the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and grew up attending Mass at Our Lady of Fatima church. I have always been very devoted to Our Lady; praying the Rosary always gave me strength on my vocational journey, and still does today.

I served as an altar boy throughout my childhood and our parish priest, who was from Poland, made a deep impact on me through his life of holiness, especially in the way he celebrated the Mass. My family was hesitant to let me join the seminary, as I was only 11 years old when I first asked them if I could go, but finally they let me join a minor seminary when I was 15. I started my three years of philosophy in the seminary at the age of 17, and after that completed my four years of theology studies. I was ordained a priest forever on April 16, 2005, on the feast day of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, in the same church where I had grown up.

Following my ordination God gave me many responsibilities: first I was assigned to serve at the very parish I grew up in, and then after six months I was asked to also become the rector of the Archdiocese's seminary. I remember that the first thing I did after the archbishop asked me to fulfill this new role, was to go the chapel and cry before our statue of St. Joseph. I was only 24 years old, and a new priest, but it was all part of God's plan.

One year later I was asked to also work as a "Defender of the Bond" at our diocese's Tribunal. After nine years of working at the Tribunal, serving in the parish and at the seminary, I was asked to come to Rome to become a canon lawyer at Santa Croce. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience so far at this University, and have been truly blessed to be able to study here. It is a joy to receive a solid foundation here, that I will then be able to take back to the seminary in Curitiba.