Venerable Aloísio Sebastião Boeing

Aloísio Sebastião Boeing (24 December 1913 – 17 April 2006), was a Catholic Dehonian priest from the Diocese of Joinville. On February 23, 2023, Pope Francis recognized his heroic virtues. Aloísio Sebastião Boeing was born on December 24, 1913 (Wednesday), in Vargem do Cedro (Santa Catarina), at that time a district of Imaruí, today belonging to São Martinho. Firstborn of a German Catholic family, he was baptized on December 26 of the same year and confirmed on January 22, 1914, in the Parish of São Sebastião, Vargem do Cedro. His parents João Boeing and Josephina Effting Boeing, attended mass and prayed the rosary daily. It was in this environment that Boeing developed his life and personality in childhood: in a home of practicing Catholic parents. At the age of twelve, on February 11, 1925, encouraged by the parish priest, he left his homeland with three other colleagues, to the priesthood. The stages of their formation took place basically in Brusque and Taubaté (state of São Paulo). The first religious profession took place in Brusque on 16 January 1934. Theology studies were done in Taubaté from 1938 to 1941. He was ordained a priest on December 1, 1940 (Sunday). As a consecrated man and priest, he dedicated much of his life to formation, especially in Jaraguá do Sul. He was a master of novices for 24 years. He became a trainer with a reputation as a firm, devout, and zealous. He had great devotion to the Virgin Mary. On his initiative, this novitiate was named after Our Lady of Fatima. He was esteemed, distinguished by his kindness and paternal welcome from the students who sought him for spiritual guidance. Boeing has always worked in the field of pastoral care. From the beginning of his priestly life, he was also sought by the people for spiritual counseling until the end of his life. That was the skill he developed throughout his life.