Emigrant Expresses Outrage Over Controversy Regarding the Patron Saint of the Parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte
Nova Sintra, August 16, 2026 (Bravanews) — A wave of outrage and sadness is sweeping through the community of the Parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte, resonating particularly strongly among the diaspora. At the heart of the matter is the controversy surrounding the name of the local patron saint, an issue that has fueled heated debates among parishioners and local and ecclesiastical authorities.
Alberto Santos, an emigrant and well-known staunch defender of the parish, recently took to social media to voice his outrage. The dispute centers on the replacement of the traditional worship and invocation of the local patron saint—whom many residents and emigrants continue to firmly recognize as Nossa Senhora da Graça—with the name Nossa Senhora do Monte.
In his post, published in the aftermath of the August 15 festivities, Alberto Santos began by extending a message of congratulations to the community, while also reinforcing his position on the parish’s religious identity.
"I hope that the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, celebrated yesterday, took place with much Health, Faith, and Hope—always recognizing our true Patroness of the parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte — Our Lady of Grace.”
The emigrant expressed the emotional impact this transition has had on the faithful who are attached to the region’s roots and traditions, criticizing the actions of those responsible for parish and local administration.
"I feel outraged and hurt as a Christian and parishioner, witnessing attitudes that are devaluing and destroying the name of our local patron saint — Our Lady of Grace — an image that is the spiritual and cultural heritage of us all. Local leaders do not demonstrate the same deep sentiment that many of us carry in our hearts.”
The controversy is not limited to the issue of nomenclature alone, but reflects a growing division between residents and the faithful. As highlighted in Alberto Santos’s outburst, the general sentiment is that recent decisions have caused rifts in community cohesion rather than fostering unity among parishioners.
"It is regrettable that, instead of promoting unity, the parish is fostering division: some celebrate Our Lady of Grace, while others confuse her with Our Lady of the Mountain."
The issue continues to spark reactions among the local population and the emigrant community, which calls for the preservation of the parish’s historical memory and intangible heritage, while awaiting clarification or an official statement from parish officials.
