Monsignor Azcona entered in the Order of the Augustinian Recollects and made his profession on September 22, 1958 in Monachil, Granada, Spain. After long years of formation and given different assignments and responsibilities, he was assigned to the mission of Marajo, Brazil in 1985 and on May 4, 1987 was ordained bishop of the Prelature of Marajo, which comprises the island of Marajo, with an extension of 181,978 km2 and a population of 260,000 inhabitants (239,000 are catholics).
His Episcopal slogan “In nomine Domini” has accompanied him during all these years in the service of the Church and his fight in the protection of Human Rights, known throughout the world. During the 49th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Brazil (CNBB), denounced human trafficking, arms and drugs and gave alerted mankind of the great problem with carries with it. From that moment on he made himself a flagbearer Brazilin church in his denunciations before the political authorities.
This type of public protests, and his constant denunciations and interventions before different groups and authorities, has made Mons. Azcona target of death threats; he turned to be a Bishop “marked to die”, according to the headline of an article publicized by Spanish Television Network. This threat not only did not make him back down, but on the contrary, has not done than strengthen his zeal to the defense of rights for all types of persons, children, women, men, old ..even up to this time.
His successor in the Prelature of Marajo
The Holy Father has appointed Mons. Evaristo Pascoal Spengler, O.F.M. Bishop of the Prelature of Marajo, Brazil, who until then Vice Provincial Minister of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of Brazil, which has its seat in Sao Paulo.
The new prelate was born on March 29, 1959 in Gaspar, Diocese of Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He made his religious profession on August 2, 1982 in the Order of the Franciscans and was ordained priest on May 19, 1984.