The Portuguese Province will be holding its 30th Provincial Chapter from 28th March to 1 April at the Fatima "Spiritual Centre", under the patronage of our Heavenly Mother invoked as Our Lady of Fatima, the Spirit of Saint John of God and the Spirit of Jesus the Good Samaritan. Presiding over the Chapter is Brother Jesús Etayo, accompanied by his two General Councillors, Brother José Augusto Gapar and Brother Dairon Orley Meneses, 12 Vocals, and the Provincial Council as well as 23 Co-workers from all the Houses of the Province.

In his homily, Brother Jesús Etayo, the Prior General, shared with the Co-workers and the Brothers the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Bull Licet ex debito and the importance of this document for the Order. Pope Pius V had promulgated the Bull after hearing the testimony of the Granadians who had confirmed  the strong charismatic power of the brethren. The responsibility now lies with the Provincial Chapters to continue driving forward with this same power.

The Provincial Chapter will be moderated by Father Pedro Fernandes, Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. Brother Alberto Mendes has been appointed to serve as Chapter Secretary. 

In his opening address, Brother Jesús Etayo invited the Brothers and the  Co-workers:

- To celebrate the Provincial Chapter as an opportunity to listen to the Spirit and to walk forward synodically.

-To view the pandemic as an opportunity to offer hospitality: it is the Hour of Hospitality.

- The invasion of Ukraine has also left many dead and refugees, and we all keep in mind the Drohobich Community for their testimony to Hospitality by placing their own lives in jeopardy. This is a new charismatic emergency and it is once again the Hour of Hospitality.

- The Provincial Chapter is an experience of Synodality - Walking together – and in this experience we must listen to everyone because we all share the same dignity, walking together as the Church of Synodality proceeding in the same direction.

- It invites to live the Chapter in a different way which will transform the Province, and will give life to the Province.

- To review the Lines of the General Chapter, the spiritual life, the call to care for creation, our common home, the care of the vulnerable, the adoption of new juridical structures for our apostolic works and Schools of Hospitality.

He committed the Provincial Chapter into the hands of Our Lady of Fatima and Our Mother, Our Lady of the Patronage, and of St John of God, to guide it and make it bear the fruits we are looking forward to receiving.

The Provincial Chapter on 31 March 2022 elected the new Superior of the Province: Brother José Paulo SIMÕES PEREIRA

After the election of Brother José Paulo SIMÕES PEREIRA as the Brother Provincial, the following Brothers were elected as Councillors:

First Provincial Councillor Brother Paulo Irineu CORTE DE GOUVEIA

Second Provincial Councillor Brother Bonifácio LEMOS DA COSTA

Third Provincial Councillor Brother Luís Manuel VIEIRA DA SILVA

Fourth Provincial Councillor Brother Joaquim MARTINS RAMOS