The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the centenary of the establishment of the Diocese of Lins, held on Saturday 20 June and attended by Bishop Danelon himself, and served as a way of recognising the Salesian prelate’s warm and effective presence, together with his dedication to the community of Luiziânia over the years.
Father Paulo Vendrame, in his capacity as Rector of the UniSALESIANO University – which has campuses in both Lins and Araçatuba in the State of São Paulo, some 100 kilometres apart – also attended the ceremony and emphasised the importance of the tribute, recalling Bishop Danelon’s contribution to the history of the institution he now leads:
“When the UniSALESIANO University Centre was established, Bishop Irineu was the bishop of Lins; and in order to use the term ‘Catholic’ in its name, the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference stipulates that authorisation from the local bishop is required. At that time, Bishop Irineu wrote a very fine letter on Salesian education, stating that he authorised the name and, indeed, rejoiced with all his heart at the Catholic identity of the diocese’s new University Centre.”
GRATITUDE
According to Fr Vendrame, this gesture shaped the course of UniSALESIANO and strengthened Bishop Danelon’s connection with education. “That is why we are now known as the ‘Auxilium Salesian Catholic University Centre’. This was a moment of gratitude, and as a token of our appreciation, we presented him with a souvenir from UniSALESIANO,” he explained.
The Vice-Chancellor of UniSALESIANO also highlighted Bishop Danelon’s cheerful and welcoming nature, a defining trait of his character and one that is itself inspired by the Salesian charism. “He is always in good spirits and knows how to turn difficult situations into moments of light-heartedness. He often joked that he had founded a ‘new religion’ called ‘God is Humour’, because, as a son of Don Bosco, he has always brought optimism and good humour to his life,” he recounted.
The Salesian bishop’s close ties with Luiziânia were also marked by the affection of the local community.
The town benefited from Bishop Danelon’s presence during his years of episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Lins, but the bishop maintained a special relationship with the local people even afterwards, particularly by supporting the work of Father João Braem, who served in the municipality for many years, making significant contributions through social and pastoral initiatives.
Following the death of this priest, the Salesian bishop attended the funeral and authorised the burial of Fr Braem inside the church, thereby fulfilling the wish of Luiziânia’s civil and religious communities – a gesture that further strengthened the bonds between the bishop and the town’s inhabitants. At the age of 86, and 11 years after the end of his episcopal service in Lins, Bishop Danelon continues to be remembered for his witness to the faith, his pastoral dedication and his encouragement of education and social activities, which have left a mark of closeness and joy in the communities where he worked.
Monique Bueno,
UniSALESIANO Communications Office
