Bishop Vilsom Basso, SCJ, the Bishop of Imperatriz Diocese in Maranhão, Brazil, has recently visited the Philippines. He arrived in Manila on February 8, 2023, and left the country on February 20, 2023. He was able to visit all the SCJ communities in the Philippines. Starting from the Metro Manila area, he passed through Talisay in Leyte, the Zamboanga del Sur area, ending in Cagayan de Oro City.

Before his appointment as a bishop in Brazil in 2010, from 2006 to 2010, Bp. Vilsom worked as a missionary in the Philippines. He was ordained as a priest in 1985 and served in various roles, including an associate pastor, parish priest, and director of the youth ministry program of the Brazilian Bishops Conference.

In 2006 after finishing the ESL (English Second Language) program at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, he arrived in the Philippines. Among his assignments were: parochial vicar in Kumalarang, Formator of the Pre-College program, and the pastor of the Dansolihon Chaplaincy. 

In 2008 he coordinated the international SCJ gathering in Manila titled, “Pastors with a Compassionate Heart.”

On March 19, 2010, he was appointed as bishop of Caxias, Maranhão, and in this way ended his missionary adventure. Nevertheless, in his heart, he always remained a missionary and member of the Philippine Region. His dream is to return to the Philippines after his retirement as a bishop.

On February 16, 2023, Bp. Vilsom celebrated his 63rd birthday.

We thank Bp. Vilsom for his visit as we always say, “Welcome Home Bishop Vilsom.”