Africa-Press – Cape verde. Friar Aventino Alves Gusmão, a native of East Timor, is ordained a priest this Sunday in the Parish of São Lourenço, in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Dom Arlindo Furtado.
The priestly ordination of Friar Aventino Alves Gusmão is a moment of great joy and spirituality for the Catholic community of Cape Verde, especially on the island of Fogo, and brings together confreres, Capuchin brothers and the people of God in celebration.
Friar Aventino Alves Gusmão shared with emotion his vocational journey and stated that he is “spiritually prepared for ordination” and that the brothers and confreres are concentrated in São Lourenço for the celebration.
His religious journey is marked by challenges and overcoming and he began his training in Timor, going through pre-aspirancy, aspirancy, postulancy, and took his temporary vows on August 15, 2011.
He then went to Indonesia, where he faced difficulties that made him return to Timor and, later, he was sent to Portugal, where he continued his studies in Porto and Lisbon, starting in 2017.
The Timorese friar fell in love with Cape Verde after living with Cape Verdean Capuchin brothers and asked to move to Cape Verde and, thank God, the custody accepted and today he is here with his brothers, happy and feeling at “home”, he told Inforpress.
The friar has been in Cape Verde for three years and has passed through the city of Praia (Santiago island), Brava and Fogo where he arrived six months ago, in August 2024.
“I feel at peace and I can follow this path in peace. My motto is: ‘Leave your land, your family and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you’,” said the friar, who stressed that wherever God wants to place him, he will be ready to serve Him, whether here in Cape Verde or in Timor, because everything is God’s people.
The Superior of the Capuchins in Cape Verde, Friar Gilson Frede, highlighted the value of ordination and stated that “every ordination is always a reason for grace, it is one more priest and not one more priest”.
According to him, Friar Aventino is a “special priest” because he is not from here and has chosen to live his vocation here.
“He is a special priest because I think and hope that he will bring a new way of being a priest, close to the people. He brings with him the Eastern spirit of few words, simplicity, silence and deep respect for the body, for others and for nature, which will greatly enrich our mission in Cape Verde,” said Friar Gilson Frede.
The ordination is presided over by Cardinal Dom Arlindo Furtado, bishop of Santiago, in a ceremony that takes place at the São Lourenço Parish with the celebration of mass starting at 10 am, followed by lunch.
Friar Aventino Alves Gusmão is a Timorese Capuchin missionary who has dedicated his life to religious and community service, now working in Cape Verde as part of the Custody of the Capuchin Brothers.
Son of Cornélio da Silva Gusmão and Vitória Correia, he was born on April 20, 1985, in Ossu, East Timor and completed his primary studies at the Santa Teresinha do Menino Jesus school, in Ossu, and secondary studies at the Olocassa school.
Friar Aventino began his spiritual journey when he was still young, influenced by the presence of the Capuchin Franciscans in Timor.
He graduated in Philosophy (with studies in Timor and at the University of Porto) and in Theology (at the Catholic University of Portugal), consolidating his preparation for the ministry.
His religious career includes perpetual vows in 2017, diaconal ordination in 2020 and pastoral work in Lisbon before being sent to Cape Verde in 2023.
On Brava Island, he worked in the parishes of Nossa Senhora do Monte and São João Batista, standing out for his community work.
Since September 2024, Friar Aventino has lived in São Lourenço do Fogo, where he performs diaconal functions and manages the resources of the local Capuchin Fraternity.
Their presence reinforces the Order’s commitment to social justice and spiritual development in Cape Verde.
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