On 22 February last, Fr. António Lopes da Silva died in the Hospital of Viseu (Portugal). He was 93 years old.
During his long life, Fr. António led an intense missionary life in various places in Portugal and in the missions of Angola and São Tomé.
Born in Pedroso (Vila Nova de Gaia), he entered the minor seminary of Carvalhos in 1953, beginning his academic and spiritual preparation which culminated in his ordination to the priesthood in December 1964.
In Portugal he carried out various missionary services in Fatima, Santa Cruz do Castelo (Lisbon), Mira Sintra (Cacém), Tondela, Pedroso and Porto. In the missions of Angola (1969-1973) and Sao Tomé (1983-2001) he served as superior and parish priest. In Sao Tomé he was responsible for the parishes of Nossa Senhora da Graça – Sé, whose parish centre he built, and Nossa Senhora de Fátima (Bombom). He was also superior of the community, provider of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, local bursar and vicar general of the diocese of São Tomé.
His last assignment, in September 2010, was to the community of Tondela, where he became local vicar and where he has continued to support the community and pastoral responsibilities as long as his health has allowed him to do so.
