RAFAEL FERNANDO DA SILVA (priest)
Born: Recife, Pernambuco January 19, 1984
Perpetual vows: January 23, 2024
Priest: December 13, 2025
Dead: Recife, PE February 28, 2026
Age: 42 years
Father Rafael
was born on January 19, 1984, in Recife, PE.
He professed perpetual vows on January 23, 2024;
he was ordained a deacon on March 19, 2025, and a priest on December 13, 2025.
He was appointed assistant pastor of the parish of Nossa Senhora do Alivio, in
the city of Ituaçu, BA, Diocese of Livramento de Nossa Senhora.
We remember Father Rafael for the light in his eyes and the warmth of his smile.
He was distinguished by his light-heartedness and joy for life. Still in the
freshness of his priesthood, he had recently celebrated another year of life and
was able to experience one of his great passions: Carnival. His priesthood was
brief, but it was long enough to make his ministry a joyful blessing for all.
But suddenly, his time came to appear before the Throne of the Lamb: God deemed
him worthy of taking him to Himself. On the morning of Saturday, February 28, we
were struck by the unexpected news of his Easter experience. He died from a
heart attack that struck him during the night. At the time, he was at his
family's home.
The funeral was celebrated at the Shrine of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, on Morro
da Conceição in the city of Recife, governed by the Redemptorist Missionaries,
to whom we express our profound gratitude for their welcome and for the
affection shown to us and to Fr. Rafael. Present at the Eucharistic celebration
was Msgr. Luiz Gonzaga Pepeu, OFMCap, Archbishop-Bishop-designate for the new
diocese of Baturité (CE), who had ordained Fr. Rafael Fernando. In addition to
the Provincial Superior, Fr. Jordélio Siles Ledo, his confreres Fr. João Batista
da Dilva Pereira, Fr. Edésio Stênico, and Brother João Karlos Florêncio also
attended, along with many other diocesan and religious priests (Capuchin
Franciscans and Redemptorists), as well as a significant number of people.
He was buried in the historic Santo Amaro Cemetery, in downtown Recife, at 5:00
PM. During the burial, the people demonstrated beautifully and spontaneously. It
was moving to see the people praying and singing the "frevo" (a folk dance) that
Fr. Rafael loved so much. A "school of Frevo" danced as a gesture of affection
for our beloved Father Rafael.