In 1993–1994, Alves spent a year studying a propaedeutics course, and in 1994–1995 he underwent spiritual preparation at the São Maria pilgrim hostel in Dare.

[1][2] Later, between 2014 and 2017, Alves completed a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urban University (Italian: Pontificia Università Urbaniana) in Rome, Italy.

[1][2] Alves also served between 2010 and 2012 as secretary of the diocesan Presbyteral Council of Díli, and between 2011 and 2014 as both rector of the Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Dili, and director of the associated Catholic Secondary School.

Commencing in 2017, he was also a professor of dogmatic theology at ISFIT and executive secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Timor (CET), and from 2019, president of the Union of Clergy of the Archdiocese of Dili.

[1][2] On 26 April 2023, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had appointed Alves as bishop of the diocese of Baucau,[1][3][4] a post that had been vacant since the death of the previous incumbent, Basílio do Nascimento, in October 2021.