Vítor Coelho de Almeida

Upon returning to his homeland, Father Vítor Coelho de Almeida dedicated himself fully to the "Holy Missions" (popular missions) organized by the Redemptorists. He exercised his ministry in several locations, notably in Araraquara from 1925 to 1929, then in Campinas-Goiânia from 1933 to 1940, as well as in São Paulo. His simple, direct, and deeply popular preaching style touched the crowds and sparked numerous conversions and vocations. In 1941, stricken with tuberculosis, he had to interrupt his itinerant missionary activities. He was interned at the "Divina Providência" sanatorium in Campos do Jordão (São Paulo), where he spent seven years of painful treatment which he endured with great evangelical patience. Although his health remained fragile and prevented him from resuming long missions in the field, he returned to Aparecida in 1948 to work at the national sanctuary. It was in Aparecida that he found his primary means of apostolic action: the radio. In 1951, he participated actively in the founding of "Rádio Aparecida," of which he assumed the directorship from 1965 to 1970. Through the airwaves, he became the voice of the sanctuary and the "Catechist of the Homeland." His daily programs, such as Os ponteiros apontam para o infinito (The hands point to the infinite), Consagração a Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Consecration to Our Lady of Aparecida), and Entrevista com os Romeiros (Interview with the pilgrims), marked generations of Brazilians. In 1969, in the midst of the military dictatorship in Brazil, Father Vítor read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the air. This act of pastoral courage was deemed subversive by the regime in power, which ordered the closure and sealing of the radio station for 24 hours. Despite pressure and censorship, he continued to defend social justice and human dignity through his teaching.

Father Vítor Coelho de Almeida died on July 21, 1987, at the Frei Galvão Hospital in Guaratinguetá (São Paulo), following a pulmonary embolism, at the age of 87. His death sparked immense popular emotion, and nearly twenty thousand people attended his funeral at the Basilica of Aparecida. His reputation for holiness, already firmly established during his lifetime, prompted the Archdiocese of Aparecida to open his beatification process. The diocesan inquiry was officially opened on October 12, 1998, after obtaining the nihil obstat from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on November 3, 1998. This first phase of investigation concluded on August 30, 2006, and its legal validity was decreed by the Vatican on February 29, 2008. An additional process concerning his numerous writings was conducted from 2010 to 2014.

On August 5, 2022, during an audience granted to Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Father Vítor Coelho de Almeida, thereby conferring upon him the title of Venerable. For his beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession is required. A case of unexplained healing that occurred in Ribeirão Preto is currently being studied by the postulation of the cause. His mortal remains, initially deposited in the chapel of the Redemptorist memorial in Aparecida, were solemnly transferred to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida on July 21, 2023, the 36th anniversary of his death, to allow for greater devotion by the faithful.

The spirituality of the Venerable Vítor Coelho de Almeida is deeply Christocentric and Marian, centered on the figure of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil. He knew how to use modern means of communication, particularly radio, to evangelize the poorest and most isolated populations of the country, embodying the Redemptorist ideal of proclaiming the Copiosa Redemptio (Abundant Redemption). His legacy remains alive through the popular devotion surrounding him and the lasting impact of Rádio Aparecida. Furthermore, the large events center of the National Sanctuary of Aparecida now bears his name ("Centro de Eventos Padre Vítor Coelho de Almeida") and hosts important ecclesial gatherings, such as the National Symposium of Families.