Fr Tiago Varanda has been blind since he was 16 years old. He is now a priest, and the first to be ordained already blind.
He took Holy Orders on the 15th July 2019 at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro in Braga.
Following his ordination, he visited Cova da Iria where he celebrated mass at a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, to which he dedicated his vocation.
Fr Tiago explained that Fatima always held a special place in his heart and that he wanted to share his ordination with Our Lady there. He added that he had visited Fatima when he still could see and the experience was a completely different one. He said that thanks to Our Lady he feels at one with Jesus. Fr Tiago said that without his eyesight, he has become more sensitive to his surroundings, the sounds he hears and the smell of wax melting from lighted candles, and that all this helps him focus more on Jesus Christ.
