Antônio Moreira Borges
# Antônio Moreira Borges

Antonio Moreira Borges, better known as Father Antônio Maria (17 August 1945), is a Catholic priest and Brazilian singer, having performed in duets with Roberto Carlos, Agnaldo Rayol and Angela Maria, as well as a presentation for the then Pope John Paul II.

## Biography

### First years

His parents were Portuguese, who arrived in Brazil in mid-1928, the couple Francisco and Mavília. They settled in the neighborhood of Magalhães Bastos, Rio de Janeiro, and had 5 children, but 2 died before 1 year of age, the other 3 were Carmelina, Eduardo and Antônio. According to Father Antônio Maria, he says he is "half Brazilian, half Portuguese".

Antonio and his family lived a humble life, lived with his grandmother Maria and grandfather Manuel, until 1948, when they finished building a home. Antonio studied at Colégio Rosa da Fonseca.

### Priesthood

He was ordained as a priest on 25 September 1976 and in his early years as a priest he performed his missionary activity in Portugal.

He spent many years in charge of the Works of Greater Love at Catarina Kentenich Educational Center, based in Jaraguá, São Paulo, but is now on his way to a new mission after spending a year in a sabbatical period in Mexico.

As a priest, who made a vow of poverty and therefore does not have institutions in his name, the Congregation itself took over the whole work of the orphanage, where Father Antonio Maria has three adopted children. Now, the priest lives in Extrema, Minas Gerais, or in Jacareí, in São Paulo, where the sisters of the new project work on the construction of a convent. "Of course humanly speaking, I miss it, but God is filling with other works that we are doing," he told the Mundo Lusíada.

Antônio Maria has since worked at the Filhas de Maria Foundation – Servas dos Pequeninos, with his mother-house in Minas Gerais, and branches in other states.

Despite the changes, the priest continues to count on the friendship and affection of the Portuguese community.

## Discography

* 1982 – A Esperança Tem Voz
* 1984 – Tempo de Paz
* 1993 – 99
* 1994 – Foi Deus
* 1994 – Pássaro Liberto
* 1999 – Festa da Fé
* 2000 – Mensageiro do Amor
* 2001 – Apenas um Menino
* 2002 – Missão Divina
* 2003 – No Mar De Maria
* 2004 – Com Vida
* 2007 – Benedito Bento do Brasil
* 2010 – Prisioneiro do Amor
* 2015 – Mais Perto
* 2015 – Peregrina Do Evangelho
