The Society of the Divine Word Chicago Province has named as its next Vice Provincial Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood.
“I am deeply happy and truly honored,” said Father Andrino of his election, “and I embrace this new role with humility and gratitude.”
Elected by his fellow Divine Word Missionaries, Father Guilherme Andrino has held several leadership roles throughout his missionary life in the Society of the Divine Word, in the New Jersey District and on the Chicago Provincial Council. He will begin his term June 1 and will hold the distinction until 2029.
As Vice Provincial, Father Andrino will support the activities of the Society of the Divine Word in Canada, the eastern and midwestern U.S. and the Caribbean.
“This responsibility is great, as it calls me to serve my brothers and our mission with dedication and integrity,” he said. “After six years on the Provincial Council, I have learned that we are strongest when we work as one team, united in purpose and in faith. Guided by the Holy Spirit, I will give my very best to support our Provincial and the Council as we care for the Chicago Province together.”
Born in Brazil, Father Andrino joined the Divine Word Missionaries in February of 1990 as a sixth-grader in Paraná State, in the southern part of Brazil. He earned a degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and a degree in theology from the Institute of São Paulo of Superior Studies, where he also worked with the Associação Rede Rua, a non-governmental organization dedicated to serving the homeless population of the city of São Paulo.
Ordained in 2007 in the Diocese of Registro, his work in the Diocese of Trenton began in 2008 as parochial vicar in Blessed Sacrament-Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Parish, Trenton; he was made pastor there in 2011.
In 2014, he was elected Superior of the SVD New Jersey District – a position he continues to hold, after four subsequent reelections.
Following Spanish language study in Mexico, in 2015 Father Andrino became parochial vicar in St. Anthony Claret Parish, Lakewood.
As pastor, he has assumed spiritual leadership of thousands of parishioners in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish – a multiethnic and multilingual community where Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish and Polish across three worship sites.
Father Andrino has also served as a Portuguese-English translator for the SVD Superior General, and in 2019 received the Notable Brazilian Award in New York City, a distinction granted to Brazilians who have made significant contributions in the United States. In 2020, he was elected a member of the Provincial Council of the Chicago Province – the governing board of the Province – further deepening his experience in missionary leadership and governance.
Eager to get started, Father Andrino added, “I look forward to these next three years of service, trusting that with God’s grace and our shared commitment, we will continue to grow and flourish as a province.”