The Province of Pernambuco, serving in northern Brasil and Mozambique, held their provincial chapter on January 16-20, 2023.
The first house of the Order in the Americas was founded in the city of Olinda (Pernambuco), in 1583, by priests from the Province of Lusitania (Portugal). In 1720, two provinces were simultaneously established in Brazil, namely: Rio de Janeiro and Bahia-Pernambuco. From the year 1679 the Pernambucan convent of Goiana (founded in 1666) had accepted the Reform of Touraine. This reform movement eventually led to the establishment of the autonomous province of Pernambuco. In 1683 the Prior General Angelus Monsignani decided that the convents of Recife (founded in 1654) and Vila Real (which was later succeeded by Paraiba) would be handed over to the Carmelites of the Reform. In 1725 a vice-province was instituted and in 1744 the province of Pernambuco was canonically established, having three convents, six residences and about one hundred brothers. The religious and political conflicts of the 19th century severely affected the province.
As the seed for a new birth, the convent in Recife remained until, in 1894, the brothers from Spain arrived to begin the work of restoration. Goiana reopened, Gameleira (1920) and Princesa (1938), Campina Grande (1951) and Camocim de Saint Felix (1962) were founded. In 1990, the old convent of Piedade, now restored, was designated the House of Formation as many young men came to join the province as a result of the focus of the province over the years on vocational ministry. Five new houses opened: Petrolina (1998), Carmopolis (2000), Aracaju (2002), and Icó (2011). The São Cristóvão convent, founded in the 17th century, was handed over to the Province by the Archdiocese of Aracaju to be inhabited by the Carmelites again.
In 2002, a house was opened in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, with a second house founded in 2019 in Matola. In 2012, the original church and monastery in Olinda was restored to the Province.
During the Chapter the following were elected to leadership:
Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale:
Frei José Roberval, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1° Consigliere:
Frei Paulo Fernando, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2° Consigliere:
Frei José Leandro, O. Carm.
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3° Consigliere:
Frei Aloísio Da Silva, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4° Consigliere:
Frei Josué Laurindo, O. Carm.