New Assistant Priest Comes to St. Nicholas from Brazil
On
August 5, 2003, St. Nicholas Parish received a new assistant pastor—
Father Teofilo Mechalichen, OSBM.
Father Teofilo was born on November 6, 1969, in the village of Capanema, near Prudentopolis, Brazil. He attended the Ukrainian Minor Seminary in Prudentopolis, administered by the Basilian Order, from 1986-1992.
He entered the Novitiate of the Basilian Order on February 13, 1993. After a year of candidacy, he received the Basilian habit, on February 2, 1994. Upon completing his novitiate, he made his first profession of temporary vows, on February 2, 1995.
From 1995-2001 he studied philosophy and theology at the Basilian House of Studies (Studium) in Batel, Curitiba. During his studies, Father Teofilo worked in youth programs, as a medic and barber and took part in the seminary choir.
He made his Solemn Perpetual Profession of Monastic Vows, on March 25, 2000. He was ordained to the diaconate on May 13, 2001 and to the priesthood on May 19, 2002, in the Church of the Nativity of the BVM, Eduardo Chaves near Prudentopolis.
As a priest, he worked for one year in the "Santa Marina" bookstore, in Prudentopolis and served the surrounding pastoral stations of Eduardo Chaves, Piquiri, Vista Alegre and Perobas.
Upon his arrival in Winnipeg, in August of 2003, Father Teofilo began studying English and providing pastoral assistance at St. Nicholas Church. Since September 2004, he serves as Chaplain to the Altar Servers, Children/Sodality of Mary and to the Religious Education Program.
