Province of Compostela
Brother Fábio Oliveira, of the Province of Compostela, made his perpetual profession on October 20 at Marist College in Carcavelos, Portugal, where he currently lives and works. This was the culmination of the "Yes" he gave for the first time on June 30, 2012 in Vouzela.
"I dare say that it is not me, nor the Marist Province of Compostela, nor the Institute of the Marist Brothers, but the Good Mother who tells you today: "Fabio, welcome to your home!". These were the words of Tomás Briongos, the Brother Provincial, during the Eucharist presided by Father José Felipe, O.P., and animated by a dozen young people from the MarCha groups. Brother Fábio was accompanied by his formators, Brothers, relatives, friends, co-workers and many other people important to him on his journey.
In thanksgiving, Brother Fábio highlighted three relevant words in his life: disorganization, trust and gratitude. "Something that deeply characterizes me is being disorganized. And it is thanks to this disorganization that we are here today. If I had had many plans, when I was asked if I wanted to enter the juniorate, I would not have answered as I did: ‘Why not?’ And that leads me to the second word: trust. I owe my ability to trust, first of all, to my family.” After stressing the importance of always trusting and giving himself into the hands of God—who calls us to be brother to everyone—he moved on to the third word: gratitude, giving thanks to all the people he’s met throughout his life, many of who were present. "It was with you that I learned, and continue to learn, to be a Brother.”
After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with a meal, a celebration marked by simplicity, joy and music. The celebration began on Saturday night with a concert by "BandaAlegre", to which Brothers Fábio and Rui Pies belong. The concert "Hermano", which took place in the auditorium of the Marist College of Carcavelos, brought together more than two hundred people and was an ode to fraternity, with the testimony and participation of several Marist Brothers.
H. Fábio Oliveria
Brother Fabio was born on September 13, 1991 and lived until the age of 15 in Pinheiro da Bemposta, Oliveira de Azeméis. He met the Marists through the MarCha youth movement in 2003 and, in September 2006, began his Juniorate experience in the Marist community of Vouzela. Three years later, after finishing his Bachelor of Science degree, he moved to Salamanca, as a postulant, to study Religious Sciences at the Pontifical University.
In October 2010 he began the Novitiate in the community of Seville, where he lived various experiences of personal and spiritual growth. He continued his formation in Religious Sciences and participated actively in volunteer projects in the local parish. On June 30, 2012, he said "Yes" to his vocation as a Marist Brother, celebrating his first Profession in Vouzela.
In 2016 he completed his post-novitiate years in León, where he graduated in English Philology. He then went to Ireland for a community and Erasmus experience course in Dublin. In September 2016, at the age of 25, he moved to Portugal, to the community of Lisbon, where he lived for two years, and then to Carcavelos, where he has lived since September 2018. In September 2019 he completed his Master's Degree in Teaching English and Spanish for Secondary School. Throughout his career he has had several experiences as a volunteer and has dedicated himself above all to music and to youth and vocation ministry.