In a few days, the Diocese of Angra will welcome a new priest. Yet the story of Deacon Fábio Silveira is not merely the story of an ordination. It is the story of a calling that emerged slowly, matured through experience, and found its deepest meaning in service to others.
Born in Santo António do Monte, in the parish of Candelária on Pico Island, Fábio Silveira did not follow the traditional path often associated with priestly vocations. His decision to enter the seminary came at the age of twenty-eight, after years devoted to academic studies, professional work, cultural activities, and community involvement. Looking back today, he does not describe that decision as a change in direction but as a completion of something that had always been quietly growing within him.
“My life did not change—it became complete,” he says.
That simple statement captures much of his journey. Even while actively engaged in parish life, music, culture, and service, there remained a sense that something was still missing. The various ways he served the Church brought fulfillment, but not fullness. It was only when he embraced the possibility of the priesthood that the pieces finally came together.
His family played a central role in that process. Raised in a deeply rooted Catholic household, he inherited not only faith but also a profound understanding of community, responsibility, and service. Friends became companions on the journey, offering support rather than skepticism. And his home parish became what he affectionately calls the oasis of his vocation.
“My land and my people are the good culprits behind this vocation,” he says with a smile.
Music has been another defining thread throughout his life. Long before entering the seminary, Fábio was known as a musician, composer, conductor, and cultural organizer. For him, music has never been merely artistic expression; it has been a bridge between people.
The arts, he believes, possess a unique ability to create communion and understanding. They open doors that formal discourse sometimes cannot. Beauty, he says, elevates the human spirit and points toward something greater than ourselves.
That perspective continues to shape his ministry. Whether through liturgy, community events, or simple encounters with parishioners, he sees culture and faith not as separate worlds but as partners in building relationships and fostering belonging.
His years at the Episcopal Seminary of Angra also carry a special historical significance. Fábio Silveira became the last seminarian to complete his entire formation in the institution before the end of a chapter that shaped generations of Azorean clergy.
The distinction is bittersweet. On one hand, it represents the closing of a historic era in the life of the Diocese. On the other, it marks the successful completion of a demanding journey filled with challenges, growth, and discovery.
Yet when asked about the most important lessons of seminary life, he speaks less about theology classes and more about human experience. Empathy, proximity, listening, and community, he says, are among the most essential tools a priest can possess.
Those lessons have been reinforced through his pastoral work across several parishes and diocesan ministries. In particular, his experiences with children and young people have left a profound impression.
At a time when many lament the absence of youth from church life, Fábio has discovered something different. He has found sincerity, generosity, and a genuine hunger for meaning among younger generations.
“The young are not lost,” he says. “They are often misunderstood.”
That conviction shapes his vision for the future. He believes the Church must move beyond waiting for young people to return and instead go out to meet them where they are. Evangelization, he argues, begins with presence, understanding, and authentic relationships.
The same approach informs his understanding of priesthood in an increasingly secular society. Rather than retreating from contemporary realities, he believes the Church must engage them directly. The priest’s role is not to stand apart from society but to walk alongside people through their struggles, questions, joys, and hopes.
Today, serving in the Ouvidoria of Povoação on São Miguel Island, he encounters communities carrying wounds, uncertainties, and the consequences of social and pastoral change. It is precisely there, he believes, that the priest is called to be present.
His ordination motto reflects that mission beautifully: “I myself will tend my sheep, says the Lord” (Ezekiel 34:11).
It is a passage that has accompanied him since before he entered the seminary and one that continues to define his understanding of ministry.
When asked what kind of priest he hopes to become, his answer is neither elaborate nor theoretical.
He hopes simply to remain faithful to his first “yes.” He hopes to continue finding Christ in the people he serves. He hopes to walk beside them in their ordinary lives.
For Fábio Silveira, priesthood is not primarily an office or a title. It is a vocation of encounter.
And like so many enduring stories born in the Azores, it is rooted in community, shaped by culture, strengthened by faith, and carried forward by hope.
Translated and Adapted from an interview done by António Pedro Costa in an interview published by Correio dos Açores.
