The 28th of April was an historic day for the Discalced Carmelite Order in Portugal, since on this day was officially presented in the monastery of our Fatima friars, the Commission for Historical Studies and Cultural Patrimony of the Teresian Carmel in the said province (CEHOC-OCD, is its acronym in Portuguese).
The presentation, at which Fr Pedro Ferreira the Provincial presided, was also graced by the presence of the President of the commission, Fr Joaquim Teixeira. This presentation day was opened by two lectures, one by the architect Teresa de Campos Coelho and the other by the engineer, Miguel Portela. Proceedings were brought to a close with a conference by Fr Renato De la Cruz, ocd, concerning the two essential figures contributing to the shaping of the Teresian charism in Portugal: María de San José and José del Espíritu Santo.
The assistants ─members of the commission and invited researchers─ were able to visit the Commission’s facilities (in Fatima’s Domus Carmeli) and to enjoy a concert of Gregorian chant performed by the novices who live there.
Some resources of interest concerning the Commission are accessible on the internet, at the following site: www.historia.carmelitas.pt (which contains the magazine Studia Carmelita).
Concert video: https://youtu.be/hc9Xmniad_c
http://www.carmelitas.pt/site/noticias/noticias_ver.php?cod_noticia=502
