Padre Guilherme, a village priest from northern Portugal, has found an unconventional way to spread joy and faith—through electronic dance music. Born in 1974 in Guimarães, he has been a priest since 1999, serving in the Archdiocese of Braga while also holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as a military chaplain in the Diocese of the Armed and Security Forces.
Electronic dance music has been part of his life since early days, but it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that his DJ career truly took off. With churches closed and people isolated, he turned to livestreaming weekly DJ sets, exploring new sounds and diving deep into the world of techno. His ability to blend electronic beats with spiritual elements quickly gained attention, leading to features in Reuters, Forbes, and Clubbing TV.
Padre Guilherme’s style is rooted in techno but infused with influences from folk and sacred music. His sets take listeners on a journey, where faith, peace, and love are woven into pulsing rhythms. His performances are characterized by joy, daring, and a touch of irreverence, making him stand out in both religious and electronic music circles.
One of his most significant moments came in 2023, when he performed in front of over a million people at World Youth Day in Lisbon, an event attended by Pope Francis. The massive crowd danced to his beats, proving that electronic music and faith are not mutually exclusive. He also launched his own EP that year, further cementing his role as both a priest and a musician.
For Padre Guilherme, electronic music is more than entertainment—it’s a way to bring people together. Through his music, he continues to break barriers, showing that faith and beats can go hand in hand. “I can’t take this literature (Bible) to the dance floor but I can have the same principles: talk about Christ, tolerance, faith and love,” he said to Reuters.
