Pope Names Metropolitan Archbishop of Maringá, Brazil

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Severino Clasen, O.F.M., of Caçador, as metropolitan archbishop of the diocese of Maringá, Brazil.

Bishop Severino Clasen, O.F.M.

Bishop Severino Clasen, O.F.M.was born on June 10, 1954, in Petrolândia, Brazil, in the diocese of Rio do Sul, State of Santa Catarina. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy of the Franciscans in Curitiba-PR and in theology at the Franciscan Institute of Theology at Petrópolis-RJ. In addition, he attended specialist and refresher courses on the Franciscan sources in Assisi, Italy, and on sacred scriptures in the Holy Land.

He gave his religious vows in the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor and was ordained a priest on July 10, 1982.

During his ministry he has held the following pastoral roles: parish vicar of “Nossa Senhora do Rosário” in Concórdia-SC; guardian and parish priest of “Nossa Senhora do Rosário” in Porto União-SC; secretary of the Vocational Sector of the Province; assistant of the “Santa Clara” Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order; parish priest and rector of the Parish-Shrine of “São Francisco de Assis” in São Paulo.

On May 11, 2005, he was appointed bishop of Araçuaí and received episcopal ordination on June 25, 2005. On July 6, 2011, he transferred to Caçador.

Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, he is president of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for the Laity and is currently president of the “Sul 4” Region, which includes the ecclesiastical circumscriptions of the State of Santa Catarina.