† Fr. Avelino Josè Vieira da Silva (di Gesù)

ORIGINS AND EARLY FORMATION

Father Avelino was from Braga, born on 23 March 1943 into a family deeply rooted in faith. He was the son of José da Silva and Ana de Jesus Vieira. His vocational journey began at an early age, at 10 years old, when he entered the Passionist Seminary of Barroselas on 5 October 1953.

His religious consecration was consolidated with the completion of the Novitiate in 1958-59, culminating in his Religious Profession on 29 September 1959, also in Barroselas.

STUDIES AND ORDINATION

His academic and theological formation led him to travel to important centres of learning. Between 1959 and 1961 he attended the Philosophy course in Barroselas. He then went to Italy, where he completed the Theology course at S. Gabriele dell’Addolorata, in the province of Teramo. It was also there that, on 6 August 1965, he was ordained a priest.

Continuing his intellectual journey, between 1965 and 1967 he resided in the community of SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Rome, while attending the prestigious University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where he specialised in philosophical studies.

MISSION IN TEACHING AND FORMATION

On his return to Portugal, he divided his activity between the formation of new seminarians and official teaching. Among the key periods we recall:

Arcos de Valdevez: where he held the role of Seminary Prefect, Director and Professor between 1967-1971 and 1972-1974.

• Between 1972 and 1974, he was in Barroselas as Director and Professor of the aspirants.
• From the mid-1970s onwards, his contribution extended to official state education. He was a teacher at the Lyceum of Viana do Castelo for several periods (1974-1989).
• He also spent a period in Santarém, where he completed his teaching practicum in 1977-78.
• He subsequently moved to the community of S. António da Charneca (Barreiro), teaching in Setúbal (at the Lyceum Bocage) between 1979 and 1981.

His technical and pedagogical skills led him to take on leadership roles, serving as Deputy Educational Coordinator at the Lyceum of Viana do Castelo between 1989 and 2002. He concluded his official teaching career at the Lyceum of Barroselas in 2004.

During his teaching years, he always collaborated in other community services: at times as bursar, at times as vice-superior, and also as librarian.
For several years, between 1996 and 2004, he attended the Confraria da Paixão of Braga on a monthly basis.

After the school reform of 2004, he remained fully active in pastoral ministry in Barroselas. Between 2011 and 2024 he held the role of Vice-Superior of the community, combining his vast life experience with the spiritual and administrative guidance of the house. He also frequently made himself available to answer the phone and work at the reception.

In the final years of his life, illness came knocking at his door. Father Avelino faced with courage and resilience the vicissitudes of cancer, as well as the subsequent treatments he underwent.
He departed for the house of the Father this Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

His life story demonstrates his desire to serve God, the Church, the Congregation and the world, primarily through his work as a teacher. His reserved personality led him to dedicate himself constantly to reading and study. He sought to be present in community moments to encourage and collaborate with others. He was faithful to his prayer time, always seeking to make God the foundation and cornerstone of his life.