Antônio Ferreira Viçoso

Antônio José Ferreira Viçoso was a Portuguese religious priest of the Congregation of the Mission. He served as bishop of Mariana from 1843 until his death. He relocated to Brazil prior to his episcopal appointment where he worked to establish the ecclesial institutions on a solid basis and opposed government efforts to control the ecclesial workings that he believed were under the domain of the episcopal superiors while he also was attentive to the needs of the poor in his diocese. In the face of strong opposition he ordained the first black slave ever to become a priest who was Blessed Francisco de Paula Victor.