Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Viana do Castelo

GPS 41.69948284264309, -8.82136766897552

Father António Neiva and Father Rogério Cruz, the first parish priests of this Parish, were assisted by a Parochial Senate. They did not have their own residence. Fr. António Neiva resided with Fr. Dr. Araújo Cunha, at Matriz. Fr Rogério Cruz, in an apartment rented by him in Abelheira. In 1978 there was no archive, except for a folder of invitations related to catechesis and an inquiry, as well as the respective books of records of marriages, baptisms, deaths and Confirmation. Here is the first report of the Factory Commission that took the work of the Residence to Rua da Bandeira and, at the same time, continued the work of the Senate that, since the arrival of the new parish priest, (still in 1978) fought for the acquisition of land in Abelheira for a Parish Social Centre, where there were multipurpose spaces even for mass. The same can be seen in the following minutes, starting with the third.

First deliberations

“On the sixteenth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine, the manufacturing commission met in a room in the Parish of Our Lady of Fátima, in Viana do Castelo, at twenty-one hours and thirty minutes, under the chairmanship of Father Artur Coutinho. of the said Parish, composed of: Father Artur Coutinho, José de Sousa Carneiro Martins, Abílio Fontaínha Borja Serafim and Abílio Rodrigues Areias, Fernando Manuel Gomes Cerqueira. With the following agenda: Definition of tasks; Inventory of existing assets; Moving and depositing money at Banco do Fomento; Analysis of accounts (of the Parish) and fundraising for the same. Father Artur Rodrigues Coutinho – President; José de Sousa Carneiro Martins – Secretary; Abílio Orlando Fontaínha de Borja Serafim – Treasurer; Abílio Rodrigues Areias – Member; Fernando Manuel Gomes Cerqueira – Member. Change the name of the bank account, which should contain the name of all the elements that make up the Committee, although two signatures are sufficient for signing checks. The money must be deposited on demand at Banco do Fomento. Debts were focused on: that of the cinema machine, which is thirty-five thousand escudos, chairs for the living room, protection of the registry office, as a priority. Raising funds to cover deficits, for example: inviting some amateur theater groups to come and perform at Salão do Carmo, creating a theater group and others. given in the medal exhibition held in the Parish, from January 27th to February 3rd, to Mr José Maduro who, free of charge, as well as Mr Fernando Amado have collaborated in the carpentry and electricity parts respectively, and also to the cinema team, made up of Álvaro Alpuim, José Rodrigues, Armando Costa, Joaquim Martins Gomes and Emílio Jorge Ramos Rodrigues. Thus, the meeting was concluded and, as it is true, I drew up these minutes which, after being read, will be signed by those present, by me as secretary, by the President, treasurer and member.”