The historical ordination of Mons. Vidal, the first Augustinian bishop born in Brazil: "For you I will be a bishop; with you I will be a Christian"

his past Saturday, January 24, 2026, will forever remain a very special day on the calendar for the Catholic Church in Brazil and for the entire Augustinian family.

In the city of Bragança Paulista, in the Archdiocese of São Paulo, Fray Márcio Antonio Vidal de Negreiros was ordained auxiliary bishop of this see. Until now, he had been serving as Secretary General of the Organization of Augustinians of Latin America and the Caribbean (OALA), in addition to exercising his priestly ministry as parochial vicar at Nossa Senhora Aparecida, where—as stated in the communiqué of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation—“he served with pastoral dedication, closeness to the people, and evangelizing zeal.”

Now, Pope Leo XIV has entrusted Fray Márcio with a broader mission within the episcopal region of Sant’Ana, one of the six that make up the Archdiocese of São Paulo, which today includes 60 parishes in a geographical area of approximately 1.5 million inhabitants.

The episcopal celebration was marked by a deep spirituality, communion, and joy among the 20 concelebrating bishops and more than 150 religious men and women, family members, and faithful from various dioceses and regions of the country who filled the venue. In total, 2,500 faithful took part in the liturgical events presided over by Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo. Also present were the Assistant General for Latin America, Father Benjamín García Franco, OSA, and the former Prior General of the Order, Father Alejandro Moral Antón, OSA.

Almost the entire OALA Board was also in attendance, as well as a delegation from the Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of Mexico, headed by its Prior Provincial, Father Usaí Heleodoro Romero Martínez, OSA, together with the Provincial Secretary and the Provincial Treasurer. The Major Superior of the Province of Our Lady of Grace of Colombia, Father Mauricio Saavedra Monroy, OSA, also concelebrated.

A profound “inner reorganization”

During his address, Bishop Fray Márcio noted that the past months, since his episcopal appointment, had been marked by a profound inner reorganization “in his feelings, in his thinking, and in the way of looking at his own vocational, religious, and priestly history.” Looking toward the future, he affirmed that he embraces the new mission entrusted to him by the Church in the Archdiocese of São Paulo “with faith, openness of heart, and full trust in the loving action of God.”

Renewed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Fray Márcio emphasized that “in the exercise of the episcopal ministry, the center of all apostolate must be the person of Jesus Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel, with special attention to the poor, the humble, and the needy.” He recalled that the episcopate is “a path of self-giving, sacrifice, and offering of one’s own life, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, whom the bishop is called to proclaim with courage, being a father and shepherd, a defender of human dignity and of the hope of the Kingdom.”

Inspired by the Letter to the Colossians, he assumed his ministry “clothed in mercy, kindness, and humility” (Col 3:12). Addressing the clergy, the religious men and women, the faithful of the ecclesial communities, the movements, educators, and pastoral ministers of the episcopal region of Sant’Ana, he recalled the words of Saint Augustine: “For you I am a bishop; with you I am a Christian,” expressing his desire to learn to be a bishop by walking with the People of God in communion with the other auxiliary bishops and with the Metropolitan Archbishop.

During the homily, Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer highlighted the theological depth of the rite of episcopal ordination, affirming that this is the moment in which “the Church is reborn and reshaped,” ensuring the continuity of apostolic succession—not as an honorary title for the person, but as “a service of friendship with Christ lived in generous self-giving.”

Addressing the new bishop, Cardinal Scherer exhorted him to be “a shepherd attentive to all the sheep, especially priests and deacons, the poor and the sick, pilgrims and migrants. The one who presides must always be like the one who serves.”

At the end, the new bishop entrusted his ministry to the intercession of Saint Anne, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and Saint Augustine, asking for prayers and assuring his own prayer for all those whom he will serve.