Ceferino was a son of Mapuche Chief Manuel Namuncurá and a Chilean captive woman. Manuel fought bravely against General Roca's conquering troops but, when it turned impossible to beat them, he settled for a peaceful coexistence with the white man. In 1884, Namuncurá officially surrendered and was promoted to Honorary Colonel of the Nation.

Ceferino was born in 1886 and at the age of 11, when he realized his people were being neglected, he decided to study in Buenos Aires to acquire knowledge that could help his people, so he was sent to the Salesian School.

Afterwards, he studied to become a priest in Viedma; then, Monsignor Cagliero took him to Rome to continue his studies but also in the belief that the weather would be good for his health since the young man had tuberculosis. He died at the age of 18 after having met Pope Pius X and his remains were returned to his land of origin.