Santa Casa holds the first mass in the century-old chapel restored by the Government
The space, which houses an important sacred collection from the 19th and 20th centuries, was closed for 35 years
Held on the morning of this Friday, the 28th, the mass, celebrated by the auxiliary bishop of Belém, Dom Paolo Andreolli, marked the transfer of the chapel to the care of the São Raimundo Nonato parish in Belém, as well as the reunion of staff, patients, and community members surrounding Santa Casa with the completely restored space, after being closed for 35 years.
“I would like to thank each person who came to celebrate this very special moment with us, when we returned to Santa Casa a place of faith, welcome, and hope that had been waiting to be reborn for thirty years. The restoration of this chapel represents more than just a work. It symbolizes the care for our history, respect for our roots, and commitment to what sustains the mission of Santa Casa for almost four centuries,” stated the interim president of Santa Casa, Michel Padinha.
Built at the end of the 19th century, the Santa Casa chapel had been closed since 1993 and was completely restored with an investment of R$ 3,558,508.33. The space, with 375 square meters, houses an important sacred collection from the 19th and 20th centuries and has internal and external access, serving both the internal public and the community.
“The work included the replacement of the roof with thermal-acoustic tiles, restoration of the stucco ceiling with medallions, hydraulic tile flooring according to the original layout, marbled walls, altars with marble bases, and complete restoration of the sacred art pieces. The chapel received new benches with appropriate ergonomics and a ducted air conditioning system,” detailed Marcelo Frota, engineer of Santa Casa.
The first mass of the chapel gathered more than 100 participants who were moved to be present at such a significant moment for the institution.
A Santa Casa staff member for 17 years, in addition to attending the ceremony, Ana Machado organized an exhibition in the format of a photo string that brought together records of Santa Casa and the chapel from the last century. The exhibition was conceived with the support of cinema student Arthur Machado.
“I believe many people dreamed of this moment of reopening the chapel. And knowing the history, we made this a rescue of what it used to be, so that people can have an idea of our history, which is so rich that it arouses the interest of a cinema student who intends to document this moment and other facts that reveal this memory so important for this hospital and for our State, as it is part of our culture as residents of Pará,” highlighted Ana Machado.
For nurse Auxiliadora de Vilhena, coordinator of the Pastoral Commission of Santa Casa, the restoration of the Chapel is due to the efforts of the current hospital management and the Government and represents a gift for staff, patients, and visitors who share the Catholic faith.
“We work for Jesus; it is the house of Jesus that is being restored, all by the grace of God. And we also thank the Government and the management of Santa Casa and everyone involved in the restoration of this space where patients can find Jesus in this moment of illness, and many are healed,” she emphasized.
Every Sunday, there will be a Holy Mass at 7 a.m.; every Thursday, at noon, there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and on the first Friday of each month, at noon, there will be a mass in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
From Monday to Friday, the Santa Casa Chapel will be open only to the internal public for noon prayers.
Requests for scheduling religious events, such as baptisms and weddings, should be made to the secretary of the São Raimundo Nonato Parish, located at Avenida Senador Lemos, 990, from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
