On August 2, 2022, the feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula, the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil blessed and inaugurated its newest friary in the city of Belo Horizonte, the capital of the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais.
The new Our Lady of the Angels Friary was approved by the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, on March 16, 2022. On March 25, 2022, the feast of the Annunciation, the friary was erected by decree of the former Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA [OLA], Friar James McCURRY.
The Custodial Vicar and Guardian, Friar José PINTO CARDOZO JUNIOR, presided over the ceremony. Others present included the Provincial Custos, Friar Ronaldo GOMES DA SILVA; the friars from the new friary; the friars from the São José de Copertino Friary in Juiz de Fora (to which the new friary once belonged as a filial house); and Friar Fernando PEREIRA DE ANDRADE JUNIOR.
Next, the Provincial Custos presided over Mass at the local Church of Santa Cecilia, where our friars serve. During the well-attended Mass, an image of Our Lady of the Angels was blessed and later transferred to the new friary. This event was a time of grace and an opportunity to consolidate our Conventual presence in this metropolitan area of Minas Gerais. The Custody will be celebrating its next Ordinary Custodial Chapter in September of 2022.
May Our Lady of the Angels, the patroness of our Mother Province as well, continue to intercede for the life, vocation and mission of the friars.
Friar Carlos Roberto de Oliveira CHARLES, Custodial Secretary
