The Chapter of the General Commissariat of Portugal was held from April 26-28, 2023 in Hotel Casa São Nuno in Fatima. Both the Prior General Míċeál O'Neill and the General Councilor for Europe, Richard Byrne, participated.
In 1251 Carmelites, coming from Mount Carmel, made a foundation in the town of Moura. In 1397 St. Nuno Álves Pereira, a hero as commander of the Portuguese in their war for independence from Castille in 1383-1385, entrusted the magnificent monastery and church in Lisbon which he had built in honor of the Blessed Virgin, to the Carmelites. He himself then entered the Order.
In 1423 the Province of Lusitania was established in the Order. During the 15th century, the province was completely reorganized with the foundation of several houses, among them the house of studies in Coimbra (1536). In 1580, the first Carmelites established Carmel in Brazil.
The province continued to grow in the 17th and 18th centuries, until the earthquake of 1755, which was devastating. The province was suppressed in 1834 along with other religious orders in Portugal. The work to reestablish Carmel in Lusitania was initiated in 1930 by the Province of Baetica. Beginning in 1949, the daughter province of Rio de Janeiro joined in the efforts, replacing the Baetica Province in 1954. A provincial commissariat was created shortly thereafter. On December 8, 1992, the General Commissariat of the Lusitania was created.
The following members were elected to leadership:
. . .
Provincial | Provincial | Provinciale
Fr. Agostinho Marques Castro, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Fr. Ricardo dos Reis Rainho, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Fr. Pedro Bravo Pereira da Silva, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3o Consigliere
Fr. Manuel Ribeiro de Freitas, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Fr. João Manuel Oliveira Costa, O. Carm.
