TEMPLO ERGUIDO
The History of the New Church of São Miguel do Mato (Municipality of Vouzela)
A documentary by Liliana Silva
Public Presentation
December 17th | 6:30 pm
Crypt of the New Church of São Miguel do Mato
The social life of the territories is built by a multitude of aspects, which, often and over the years, are lost in the mists of memory. This film is an exercise in collective memory related to a common objective that happened in the parish of São Miguel do Mato, in the municipality of Vouzela.
During the 40’s some members of the local community suggested the construction of a new Parish Church, since the existing one was considered difficult to access by the population. A true movement of enthusiasm took shape in the parish, to which the decisive action of two people contributed: a worthy fellow countryman emigrated in Brazil, José Teixeira de Almeida Cardoso, who donated 50 thousand reis and a well-located land for the construction of the new church and a dynamic parish priest, Father António de Almeida de Oliveira e Silva, who had just arrived at the parish of São Miguel do Mato in 1951 and who embraced the challenge of building a new church, thus fulfilling the will of the parish.
The documentary “Templo Erguido” (“Erected Temple”), directed by Liliana Silva, reconstructs the history of the process that led to the inauguration, in 1956, of the new Parish Church of São Miguel do Mato, including fundraising actions such as the organization of offering processions and the construction of the church itself, which began in 1954 and the authentic saga that constituted the transport of the bell from the old church to the new church.
“Templo Erguido” follows on from a first documentary about the ancient church of São Miguel do Mato made by Tiago Ferreira and is an organization of the Municipality of Vouzela, produced by Binaural Nodar and supported by VOUZELAR – Associação de Promoção de Vouzela and the Parish of São Miguel do Mato.
Special thanks to Father Francisco Domingos, priest of the Parish of São Miguel do Mato, to Mr. Rui Ladeira, Mayor of Vouzela, to the team of the Municipal Museum of Vouzela and to all the other people who were interviewed: Almerinda Fernandes, António Pereira, Daniel Menezes, Emília Costa, Franklim Lima, Isabel de Almeida Oliveira Fragoso, Maria Ferreira, Maria Helena Lima, Maria Helena Mendes, Maria Marques and Otília Nogueira.
Binaural Nodar is a professional cultural entity, co-financed with biennial support from the General Directorate of Arts.