As part of the 125th anniversary of the presence of the Augustinian Recollects in Brazil, a historic congress was held on June 8, 2024 in the Frei Agostinho Belmonte auditorium of the Augustinian Institute of Philosophy (IAF). This event was held in preparation for the reinauguration of the matrix of the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Parish, popularly known as “Capelinha”.
The congress was attended by numerous friars, including the Prior General, Fr. Miguel Angel HernandezThe Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, Fr. Javier Telloand a large number of religious. Many lay members of the community, members of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (FSAR) and friends of the Order also attended.
The day began with welcoming remarks by the Prior Provincial, followed by an inaugural address by the Prior General, who emphasized the importance of this historic milestone. Next, Fr. Sérgio Peres de Paula presented a detailed exposition on the history of the Augustinian Recollects in Franca.
After a short break, the IAF seminarians gave a cultural presentation that included music and dance, highlighting the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Order. The architect responsible for the restoration work of the Capelinha gave a talk on the architectural details and the restoration process. In addition, religious Helton Pimenta and Sergio Sambl discussed the current reality of the IAF and the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Parish, respectively.
The congress concluded with a speech by the local Prior, Fr. Danilo José JanegitzHe thanked all those present for their participation and support and with a blessing given by Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández.
With this celebration, the Prior General pauses in his fraternal visits to the mission communities in Brazil. After this celebration, he will continue his journey to the state of Pará, where he will visit the missions in Belém, Breves, Portel and Salvaterra.
Re-inauguration of the Capelinha
The Capelinha was reinaugurated and consecrated in a solemn celebration on June 9, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The ceremony was presided over by the diocesan bishop of Franca, Dom Paulo Roberto Beloto, and concelebrated by Fr. Javier Tello, Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández and Fr. Sergio Sambl. The celebration was attended by religious from the local community and other communities, who joined in this important and exciting event.
During the ceremony, the bishop dedicated the church and the altar, and the image of Nossa Senhora Aparecida, patron saint of the church , was placed on the altar. The reopening of the Capelinha marks a milestone in the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the Augustinian Recollects in Brazil.
History of Capelinha
Built in 1910 by Manoel Valim, a freed slave, the Capelinha was founded in gratitude to Nossa Senhora Aparecida for the healing of his daughter. In 1920, after Valim’s death, the Augustinian Recollect friars bought the property and began its expansion. The current design of the Capelinha, in neo-Gothic style, is the work of the Italian painter and architect Bonaventura Cariolato.
The restoration of the Capelinha, which began in 2018, included the renovation of images and stained glass windows, the replacement of floors and benches following the original historical designs, and significant improvements in terms of accessibility, such as the installation of an elevator and the construction of a ramp that also provides access to the Velario. The tabernacle was relocated to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and the outdoor parking lot was transformed into a garden in front of the church.
