Attended Salesian School

Anthony de Almeida Lustosa was born on 11 February 1886. His was a middle class family of  farmers, in the state of  Mina Gerais, Brazil. At the age of sixteen 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.

Becomes Director of novices and Rector of studentate

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 studentate 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.

Appointed Bishop of Uberaba

The new Bishop found the Minor Seminary empty.  However, in the following year he had some thirty High School students ready for seminary life. 

He was concerned for people who were marginalised, taking up the questions of social justice.

Transferred to Corumbà

In 1928 before completing four years, he was transferred to Corumbà in Mato Grosso, which was a bigger diocese, but also with greater problems for evangelization. 

Archbishop of Belem do Parà

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 ten years, generously spending himself as he always did,  working for God’s glory.   

Archbishop of Foraleza

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  working for 22 years, as an expression of Don Bosco's Da Mihi Animas.  He was aware that first evangelisation consisted in giving people and poor families back their dignity. He founded clincis, the St Joseph's Hospital, free schools for the ordinary people, workers groups. He opened a soup kitchen for the poor and Archdiocesan social services.

Built up social services and founded a Congregation

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 who today can be found in several states in Brazil.

Gifted writer and artist

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 eleven years of his life and died on 14 August 1974.  His mortal remains rest in the Cathedral of Fortaleza.

The Diocesan Inquest opened on 14 August 1993 and concluded on 14 August 2001.