Priests of Campos, Brazil

The priests of Campos, Brazil, under the leadership of Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer, were a group of clergy deeply committed to preserving the Traditional Latin Mass and the teachings of the Catholic Church as they were upheld before the Second Vatican Council. Bishop de Castro Mayer, who served as the Bishop of Campos from 1949 to 1981, was a staunch defender of traditional Catholic liturgy and doctrine, and his priests shared his dedication.

When the reforms of Vatican II were implemented, including the introduction of the Novus Ordo Mass, Bishop de Castro Mayer and many of the priests in his diocese resisted these changes, continuing to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass exclusively. After his retirement in 1981, the priests of Campos, often referred to as the “Priestly Union of St. John Mary Vianney” (União Sacerdotal São João Maria Vianney), carried on his legacy, maintaining the Tridentine liturgy and traditional practices.

The group gained significant attention for their adherence to tradition, and Bishop de Castro Mayer himself became an ally of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, co-consecrating four bishops for the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) in 1988, which led to canonical disputes with Rome. Despite the controversies, the Priests of Campos were noted for their pastoral zeal and their commitment to serving the faithful who desired the traditional rites of the Church.