A few days ago, on the 14th of August, the episcopal ordination of Frei Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista, O.Carm. bishop of Cajazeiras (Paraiba, Brazil) was celebrated in Araripinha (Pernambuco, Brazil). The celebration was led by Dom Frei Antônio Muniz Fernándes, O.Carm., Archbishop of Maceió as the principal ordaining prelate, along with Dom Antonio Fernando Saborido (Archbishop of Recife) and Dom José Gonzalez Alonso (retired bishop of Cajazeiras). Eight other bishops took part, including the Carmelites, Dom João Costa (Coadjutor bishop of Aracajú  and Dom Wilmar Santin, (bishop of the prelature of Itaituba). The Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. was there also along with the Councillor General for the Americas, Raul Maravi, O.Carm. as well as the Prior Provincial of the province of Pernabuco, Frei Altamiro Tenório da Paz, O.Carm., the province to which Frei Francisco de Sales belongs, the Prior Provincial of the province of Rio de Janeiro, Frei Evaldo Xavier Gomes, O.Carm., and Frei Francisco Manoel de Oliveira who represented the General Commissariat of Paraná, and many other priests and religious from Cajezeiras. There were also many representatives of Carmelite womens’ congregations and several members of the Carmelite Third Order from different parts of the North-east of Brazil.

There was an air of festivity about the well-attended ceremony. The new bishop, at the end of the celebration, spoke about his gratitude to God, to his family, and to the Carmelite Order and he underlined his intention to serve with great hope and generosity the diocese that has been entrusted to him. The Prior General spoke of the three recent appointments of Carmelites bishops as a recognition of the generous service that the Order has given to the local and universal church and he thanked Frei Francisco de Sales for the service he gave to the Order as its Secretary General.

On the 4th of September, Bishop Francisco de Sales will take possession of the diocese of Cajazeiras.