After the canonical visit to the Vicariate of Angola in August, the Master of the Order, Br Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP together with the Socius for the Iberian Peninsula, Br Miguel Ángel del Río, OP made the canonical visit to the Province of Portugal from September 19 to 23 of this year where they had the opportunity to meet with the friars of the province as well as the different branches of the Dominican family there.
The canonical visit began on the 19th of September after lunch, with a visit to the community of the convent of São Domingos. The Eucharist was celebrated at the end of the day with members of the Dominican family of the region of Lisbon. Br Junito Baptista, OP prior of the community, presided at Mass, and the Master of the Order gave the homily.
The following day they travelled to Porto to meet the friars missioned there at the convent of Cristo Rei. The Eucharist was celebrated in the evening with the prior of the convent, Br José Carlos, OP presiding. The Master of the Order again gave the homily. In addition to the presence of members of the Dominican family, the Mass was also attended by a good number of parishioners, as the convent church is also a parish church. At the end of Mass, there was an opportunity to greet the Master of the Order and his socius during the supper offered by the parish community for those present.
On Thursday 21 September, the Master of the Order had the opportunity to make a fraternal visit to the nuns of the monastery of Nossa Senhora da Eucaristia, in Lamego. The visit began with a prayer in the monastery church. The Master of the Order and his socius then met with the community and the Master of the Order gave the sisters a brief overview of the Order today.
The next day, Friday, 22 September, began with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Pius XII Monastery of the Perpetual in Fatima. Mass was presided over by the Vicar of the Master of the Order for that monastery, Br José Filipe da Costa Rodrigues, OP with the homily given by the Master of the Order. At the end of Mass, the Master of the Order and his socius met with the community and had a fraternal discussion with them concerning some matters of the Order.
Following this visit, the Master and his socius continued their canonical visitation in the community of the convent of Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Fátima. On Saturday, 23 September, at the conclusion of the visitation, the Master of the Order met with the council of the province. At noon Mass was celebrated by the prior of the convent, Br Miguel Patinha, OP with the Master, the friars of the community, the Prior Provincial, Br José Manuel Correia Fernandes, OP and the Council of Province concelebrating. The members of the Dominican family of the region of Fatima were present. The homily was given by Br Miguel Ángel del Río, OP.
As the 67th National Pilgrimage of the Rosary and of the Dominican Family to the Shrine of Fatima began on this day, the Master of the Order and his socius took part in its opening. Gathered in the Chapel of Apparitions, the Master of the Order addressed all those present with a beautiful meditation on the Rosary.
