Canon Firmino Ferro, vicar general of the Diocese of Algarve, died this morning at the age of 72 at the Episcopal Palace of Faro, where he resided.
Born in Lisbon on 7 November 1943, but originally from Tavira, Canon Firmino Dinis Ferro was ordained a priest on 27 July 1969 at the Cathedral of Faro, by the bishop of the Algarve at the time, D. Júlio Tavares Rebimbas.
Having also been prefect of the Seminary of Faro for two years, after his ordination, he was curate parish priest of Silves, from September 1969 to October 1973.
In 1973, he took over as parish priest of Ferragudo, a position he held for a year, and was later appointed parish priest of Monchique e Alferce, by D. Florentino de Andrade e Silva, bishop of the Algarve at that time, parishes where he spent 15 years, from 1974 to 1989.
In 1989, the bishop of the Algarve at the time, D. Manuel Madureira Dias, appointed him parish priest of Silves, a position he held for 16 years, until being appointed vicar general of the Diocese of Algarve, in March 2005, by the current bishop D. Manuel Quintas.
Appointed by the diocesan bishop, the priest replaced in September 2011 Father Julio Tropa Mendes as parish priest of Estoi and, in February 2012, as parish priest of Santa Bárbara de Nexe.
On June 19, 2013, he was appointed canon of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Faro, of which he was archdeacon and treasurer, having taken office on the 19th of July of that year.
In 2014, Canon Firmino Ferro assumed the position of parish administrator of the parish of Quelfes, a role he held until August of last year.
In addition to these positions, Canon Firmino Ferro was also a member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultants, among other services.
The priest suffered from myasthenia, a neuromuscular disease that was diagnosed about six months ago and that caused him weakness and abnormally rapid fatigue of the muscles of swallowing and breathing.
The priest's body will be today, from 16 pm, in a burning chamber in the Cathedral of Faro, being celebrated at 19:00 a mass presided over by the bishop of the Algarve.
Tomorrow, at 15:00, the funeral will be held, with an exequial mass also presided over by D. Manuel Quintas. From there, the coffin will proceed to the Cemetery of Hope, in Faro, the body of the priest being buried in the plot of the clergy.
The Diocese of Algarve thanks the many expressions of grief that have come over the death of Canon Ferro.
Comments