On 20 August 1998, the Rt. Rev. José Cacais Gonçalves, former Regionary Bishop of the Brazilian Province, passed into the Higher Life in his hometown of Seixas, Portugal at the age of 77. He was born in 1920 and came to Brazil in 1960, where he joined the Theosophical Society. Shortly after that he came into contact with The Liberal Catholic Church. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Raja Theosophical Centre for many years. On this centre on the outskirts of São Paulo is located the small chapel dedicated to St. Michael and All Angels. Bishop Cacais was the priest-in-charge of this chapel for many years. The monthly Sunday services there were followed by delicious vegetarian lunches prepared with love and care by his late dear wife Elza. He retired some years ago as chief accountant of a major Registrar’s Office in São Paulo.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Robert McGinnis in 1981. Before and after his ordination he always worked unceasingly and tire-lessly for the Church and personally sponsored all of the Church publications, including the publication of the Holy Eucharist. He became the Vicar General of the Province in 1984, when the Rt. Rev. Renée Ventura Salles was consecrated as the first Bishop of our Church in Brazil. As a natural consequence to his utter devotion and dedication to the work of Our Lord, he was consecrated to the Episcopate in 1988 in a deeply moving ceremony at the Raja Centre by Rt. Rev. Lawrence J. Smith.

He chose as his Episcopal motto Summat Entabo (I will do my best), which strikingly defined his personality and attitude towards life. He was acutely aware of his own limitations, short temper included, but he had the unique courage and wisdom to always place the work and ideals of the Church above them. His sense of humour was delightful and contagious. He had a tremendous deter-mination and inner strength, but above all a deep and abiding love for the work of Our Lord.