Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, 22nd June 2026, I am heading to the Irish Citizenship Ceremony in Killarney, where I will stand and take the oath of fidelity to the Irish nation and, God willing, become an Irish citizen.

I have been living in Ireland for nearly a decade. My three children were born here and are all Irish citizens already. But more than this, I am certain that the Lord has called me to this land. I have no doubts about it. Through my profession, I have had opportunities to build a life elsewhere — in places where the weather and the food are more familiar to a Brazilian — but God has placed a love for Ireland in my heart that I could not shake and did not want to.

I love this land and I love its people. I love the coldness and quietness of December, the colour of the sky, the clouds, and the green of the Irish countryside. And I believe from the bottom of my heart that God has much to do in this land. That assurance fills my chest with joy and hope.

So becoming an Irish citizen is, for me, far more than a legal milestone. It is the moment where I see the Lord planting us — giving us roots, confirming the calling, and sending us forward to live and serve this land and its people.

The journey to get here was not easy. The Department of Justice wrongly linked my records with those of another individual who was subject to a Deportation Order. My application was stuck for more than two years. I had to investigate the matter myself and fight to demonstrate what has always been true — that I have been living lawfully in Ireland since I arrived. I made Vincent, John, Deirdre, and Naoise aware of the situation, as my records may have contained erroneous files with the Garda as a result of the error. In the end, it was resolved.

But the Lord has his ways. Perhaps this difficulty was permitted so that I would not take this moment for granted — so that I would receive the gift of citizenship with the weight and gratitude it deserves, rather than as something merely administrative. If so, it has worked. I receive it today with a full heart.

Thank you for your prayers and your love. May the Lord bless Ireland. May the Gospel spread across this green island and may souls be saved.

In Christ,
Felipe