The new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Caracas, D. José Dionísio Gómez Gouveia, was honored in an commemorative session at the Noble Hall of the Machico Council Hall. The ceremony served to strengthen the ties between the prelate, son of emigrants from Machico, and his family's land of origin.
D. José Dionísio, accompanied by the Bishop of Funchal, D. Nuno Brás, was received by the Mayor of Machico, Hugo Marques, and the President of the Municipal Assembly, João Bosco. The latter highlighted the honor of welcoming the bishop to the "house of citizenship," emphasizing that he is the "son of Machico residents" who left in search of better living conditions.
In response, D. José Dionísio Gómez Gouveia expressed his pride in being a "son of Madeirans" and pledged to "carry the name of Machico and Madeira to Venezuela." He mentioned the presence of about 30 priests of Portuguese descent in Venezuela, who carry with them "not only work and commerce, but also faith." The mayor, Hugo Marques, praised the bishop's journey, having studied Computer Engineering before pursuing a priestly vocation, considering him "the right person" for his new challenge.
