(ANS – Rome – October 29, 2026) – On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during the October–November plenary session of the General Council, Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, with the consent of the General Council, appointed Fr. Sedney Manja, the current Vice-Provincial of BBH, as Provincial of the Salesian Province of Belo Horizonte, Brazil (BBH), for the six-year term of 2026–2032.

Fr. Sedney Manja was born on October 18, 1980, in Canaã (MG), in the Archdiocese of Mariana. He is the son of José Manja (deceased) and Maria das Graças. He made his first religious profession in the Salesian Congregation on January 31, 2003, and his perpetual profession on December 22, 2008, in Belo Horizonte. He was ordained a deacon on October 31, 2009, in Belo Horizonte, by Bishop Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo.

He was ordained to the priesthood on December 4, 2010, in his hometown of Canaã, by Archbishop Geraldo Lyrio Rocha, Archbishop of Mariana.

He earned a licentiate in Philosophy (2004) and a degree in Theology (2010) from the Santo Tomás de Aquino Institute (ISTA) in Belo Horizonte. He also completed the Course for Teachers of Salesianity at CSFPA in Quito, Ecuador (2017), and attended the School for Formators of the Transcender Association in São Paulo (2020).

He began his priestly ministry as vice rector of the CESAM community in Ceilândia (DF), serving from 2011 to 2012. He then served as vice rector and treasurer at the Barbacena Formation Center (2013–2014).

In Pará de Minas, he served as vice rector (2014–2015) and subsequently as rector (2016–2021) of the Mary Help of Christians Community, where he also oversaw the prenovitiate. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Novice Director and rector of the Barbacena Formation Center. In 2025, he was rector in Palmas and assistant parish priest.

On September 29, 2025, he became rector of the Provincial House in Belo Horizonte and assumed the role of Vice-Provincial. Within the Province, he served as a Provincial Councilor for three consecutive three-year terms (2017–2025). He also served as Provincial Delegate for Formation for three terms, the most recent beginning in October 2025. In 2020, he was National Coordinator of the National Commission for Formation.

On October 28, 2026, the Rector Major, with the consent of the General Council, appointed him the 16th Provincial of the St. John Bosco Province (BBH) for the six-year term of 2026–2032. He will succeed Fr. Ricardo Carlos.

Let us pray for Fr. Sedney, that he may carry out a fruitful ministry of animation and governance under the protection of Our Lady Help of Christians.