Bishop (August 14, 2001)
He was concerned for people who were marginalized, taking up the questions of social justice
Anthony de Almeida Lustosa was born on February 11, 1886. His was a middle class family of farmers, in the state of Mina Gerais, Brazil. At the age of 16 he entered the Salesian School of Cachoreira do Campo. Two years later he decided to become a Salesian. He distinguished himself by his intellectual brilliance and his deep commitment to religious life.
Anthony was ordained a priest at 26 years of age and was chosen as Director of Novices. He became the Rector of the Lavrinhas community, a house of studies for professed members of philosophy and theology, as well as an aspirantate. As well as teaching, he formed many Salesians in apostolic life getting them to help out in nearby parishes and oratories.
The new Bishop found the Minor Seminary empty. However, in the following year he had some 30 high-school students ready for seminary life.
He was concerned for people who were marginalized, taking up the questions of social justice.
In 1928 before completing four years, he was transferred to Corumbà in Mato Grosso, which was a bigger diocese, but one with greater problems for evangelization.
Barely two years passed before Bishop Aleida was again transferred, this time as Archbishop of Belem do Parà, a very extensive diocese in the North. There the zealous Pastor spent 10 years, generously spending himself as he always did, working for God’s glory.
In 1941 he was transferred to the very important diocese of Foraleza, the capital of the state of Ceara. Here he gave his very best for 22 years, as an expression of Don Bosco’s “da mihi animas.” He was aware that evangelization first consisted of giving people and poor families back their dignity. He founded clinics, the St Joseph’s Hospital, free schools for ordinary people, and workers’ groups. He opened a soup kitchen for the poor and Archdiocesan social services.
Without overlooking the care of souls, he opened a pre-seminary, the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, and a radio station. To help farming families, he founded a Congregation called the Giuseppine which today can be found in several states in Brazil.
Like Don Bosco Archbishop Almeida was a prolific writer in various fields: theology, philosophy, spirituality, hagiography, literature, geography and botany. He was also a gifted artist and the two stained glasses in the Cathedral of Fortaleza, bear witness to it.
In 1963, after 38 years of Episcopal ministry, the elderly Archbishop asked to be exonerated from Pastoral work and chose the Salesian House of Carpina as his residence. There he lived the last 11 years of his life and died on August 14, 1974. His mortal remains rest in the Cathedral of Fortaleza.
