In the Corpo Santo Chapel, in the Old Town of Funchal, the sound of prayers and hymns can once again be heard on Sunday mornings. Father Manuel Ornelas decided to breathe new life into this centuries-old temple, ‘to meet people's pastoral needs’.
For years, there were no homilies in this space, which was only open twice a week for short periods. The reopening at the end of last year was intended to serve ‘elderly’ residents with ‘reduced mobility and difficulties in attending mass at the Church of Santa Maria Maior (Socorro)’.
Now, on Sundays at 10:00 a.m., Mass is celebrated in this iconic chapel, one of the oldest in Madeira, built at the end of the 15th century by the fishermen of Funchal in honour of São Pedro Gonçalves Telmo, patron saint of fishermen and sailors. Since its inception, the temple has had an important social mission within the fishing community, helping them in times of tragedy.
‘Attendance has been so good that sometimes we have more worshippers in the chapel than in the church,’ says Father Manuel Ornelas. Finally, he adds that ‘for the first time in centuries, we celebrated [on 3 August] the Feast of the Patron Saint, with Mass, a procession to the church and a festival in the churchyard.’
In addition to Mass, the chapel is open most of the time, allowing free visits. It is one of the oldest monuments in Madeira.
