If you are a visitor to Madeira, we invite you to celebrate Mass with us at the Chapel of Penha de França. The chapel is within walking distance of both the cruise quays and the hotel district. Our address is Rua da Penha de França, No 3, 9000-014.
18/01/2024 – It is with great sadness that we share the news that Fr. Bernardino passed away early this morning. Penha de França has lost a bright light today!
We thank God for his life and ministry.
Condolences to his family.
The Chapel of Penha de França was founded by Antonio Dantas in 1622 and built on a “penha” or a peak by the sea. This soon became so famous a shrine that people came to it on pilgrimage from all parts of the island.
The English Mass is a tradition that dates back to 1966, when Fr Rafael Andrade, having just returned from his first visit to England, complied with the Bishop’s request to start an English celebration. Fr Rafael presided over this mass for over 30 years, when he had to stop in 1999 due to overlapping duties.
For eight years there was no Catholic mass in English in Madeira, until it began again on the first Sunday of Lent in 2007.
Father Bernardino Andrade was our appointed Sunday priest until he sadly passed away in February 2024. Father Bernadino, was brought up in Madeira but worked as a Priest in both Moçambique and, for many years, in California. The Mass is currently being celebrated by Father Thomas from India.
On January 17th 2013,Fr. Thomas Muzhuthettw as ordained a priest in Kerala, South India. He has now completed 10 years as a priest! Father Thomas is a Carmelite priest and has been in Madeira since March last year(2023). He has been celebrating Mass for our community here at the Chapel for many months while Father Bernardino was ill.
The Mass is at 10 a.m. every Sunday. We have a choir which provides accompaniment to the hymns.
All denominations are welcome to attend the Mass. After the service refreshments are served at the cottage at the bottom of the church gardens.
So please come along and enjoy the music, Father Thomas’s inspiring homilies and fellowship with other travellers and residents of Madeira!
People Helping People
People helping People is a small charity founded in the Chapel of Penha da França to help those in need. The charity was started in 2010 and in a short period of time we created parterships with supermarket chains and restaurants
We have paid dozens of medical prescriptions, we have consumed gallons of petrol driving across the island giving lifts, we have prevented families from going hungry, getting their electricity cut off, running out of gas, losing their homes. We have tried to keep them warm, keep them hopeful and keep them dreaming.
Should you like to contribute to our project:
Contacts:
Europe:
Alexandre Silva, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
Email: alex.lupus@gmail.com
USA: Larry Contreras, 60 Meeks Ln., Oakley, CA 94561. Tel. 707-333-5501
Transfer to the PHP bank account in Madeira.
Associação Gente Ajudando Gente
Bank: Banco Santander Totta
Account Number: 0003 4938 1759020
IBAN: PT50 0018 0003 4381759020 94
SWIFT: TOTAPTPL
NIB: 0018 0003 49381759020 94
When sending any donation, please send an email to penhafranca.newsletter@gmail.com with the date and the name on the transfer so that Alexandre Silva is able to confirm with you as soon as possible as the transfer is received. Thank you.
You can read more about our charity and it’s upcoming events in our People Helping People bulletin