This
year, the theme of the meeting was about the Franciscan Order - Franciscanism in Portugal.
The opening was made by the rector of the Fatima Shrine, Father Carlos Cabecinhas, who introduced the theme of this Pastoral Year: "Are you willing to offer yourselves to God?"
The franciscan Friar Daniel, spoke about the history of the Franciscans and the presence of this order in Portugal.
The second day was dedicated to the city of Coimbra, more specifically to the visit of the two monasteries of Santa Clara: Monastery of Santa Clara a Velha (13/14 cent.) and Monastery of Santa Clara a Nova (17 cent.).
The old monastery was abandoned in the 17 century, when the nuns, unable to continue living in good conditions in the building, successively flooded by the river Mondego, moved to the new monastery, built on top of the hill, by order of King John IV.
The activities of the Meeting ended with a Mass celebrated by the bishop of Coimbra, D. Virgílio.
See you next year!
Cristina and Isabel
The rector of Fátima- father Carlos Cabecinhas
The franciscan Friar Daniel.
The Rector of Fáfima and the Stations of the Cross
Basilica
Monastery of Santa Clara a Velha
partially covered by the waters of the river Mondego.
Monastery of Santa Clara a Velha after the
archaeological works.
A second cloister remains
to be excavated and studied.
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| the apse of the church |
A second level was built to avoid the floods
The kitchen garden of the nuns.
Typical Portuguese cabbage, used to make a delicious soup.
Scarecrow in the kitchen garden
Monastery of Santa Clara a Nova- 17th century
Queen Saint Isabel, patron saint of Coimbra
Bishop of Coimbra and some of the organizers of this meeting.
