The Holy Father has appointed Rev. P. Valentim Fagundes de Meneses, MSC, up to now Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of the Province of Rio de Janeiro, based in Juiz de Fora-MG, as Bishop of the Diocese of Balsas (Brazil).
HE Msgr. Valentim Fagundes Meneses, MSC, was born on July 22, 1953, in Agualva, on the Island of Açores, Diocese of Angra (Portugal). He completed his studies in Philosophy in the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas and those in Theology in the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Nossa Senhora da Assunção in São Paulo.
On February 2, 1979, he made his religious profession in the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and on July 2, 1982, he was ordained a priest.
During his ministry he held the following positions: Parochial Vicar (1983-1985) and then Parish Priest (1986-1988) of Pai Eterno and São José in the Cidade de Deus district in Rio de Janeiro-RJ; Parish priest in El Salvador (1989-1991); Parish priest of Imaculada Conceição in Nova Iguaçu-RJ (1992-1996); Parish priest of Nossa Senhora das Dores in Floresta do Araguaia-PA (1997-2001); Parish priest of Buen Pastor de Turubamba in Quito, Ecuador (2002-2007); Parish Vicar of Nossa Senhora do Sagrado Coração in Contagem-MG (2008); Parish priest of Nossa Senhora from Ajuda to Monte Formoso-MG (2009-2011); Parish priest of Nossa Senhora do Sagrado Coraçãoat Praça Seca-RJ (2012-2014).
Within his Congregation he was Trainer of Philosophy students in Belford Roxo-RJ (1992-1996) and in the Minor Seminary in Santíssima Conceição do Araguaia-PA (1997-2001), Vice-Provincial (2012-2014) and then Provincial (2014-2020) of the Province of Rio de Janeiro.
In addition, he was Councilor of the Conference of Religious of Brazil in Brasília-DF (1984-1988) and Professor of Pastoral Theology at the Paulo VI Philosophical and Theological Institute in Nova Iguaçu-RJ (1992-1996).
At present, he is Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of the Province of Rio de Janeiro, based in Juiz de Fora-MG.
