I grew up in a small town called Divina Pastora, in the State of Sergipe in Brazil. I lived there until I was 24 and worked as a primary schoolteacher until I left to become a Postulant with the Hospitaller Order of St John of God in San Paolo.

As a Christian, after my first communion I became very active in the life of the parish, joined the youth group, served at Mass and, as a catechist, helped out with pastoral care for young people and children at risk of malnutrition.

I found out about the Order when I was 20 through the magazine Famiglia Cristiana published by the Society of St Paul, which had an article about the Fatebenefratelli  in the centrefold devoted to vocational information.

I did my novitiate in Peru, before this was transferred to Colombia, and made my first Profession of Faith in 2009. After returning to Brazil, I was charged with helping form postulants in San Paolo in 2009-2010.

Today, I am a Scholastic Brother. I am finishing my theology course and at the same helping with vocational promotion. I devote four hours a day to the patients of the St John of God Clinic, a psychiatric facility, where I help organize arts and crafts work groups.

As Father Zezinho once wrote, I believe that a   "successful vocation” is synonymous with a “happy future".