Venerable Joaquim Alves Brás

Joaquim Alves Brás (March 19, 1899 – March 13, 1966) was a Portuguese Catholic priest. Faced with the dire economic and moral situation of a portion of the population, he dedicated himself to the education of disadvantaged young girls, the training of domestic workers, and the apostolate of the family. He founded the Work of Saint Zita and the Secular Institute of the Cooperators of the Family. Pope Paul VI named him a Chaplain of His Holiness. Pope Benedict XVI recognized the heroic nature of his virtues in 2008, declaring him Venerable.