For seven months, a newly established congregation in Portugal gathered for divine services in a garage. Now, the congregation has moved into its own church—and the members are delighted.
In May 2025, a new congregation was founded in São João da Azenha, a small town located between Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. In its beginnings, the congregation consisted of five families who had moved to the area from São Tomé, an island country off the coast of Central Africa.
For seven months, the young congregation gathered in the garage of a local Priest for divine services. “We now have a core group of 32 members,” Apostle Dimitrios Diniz reported in June last year, noting a clear upward trend. It soon became evident that the garage could only serve as a temporary solution.
From garage to rented premises
In December 2025, the congregation found a permanent home. New premises were permanently rented in the village of Sangalhos, located in the district of Anadia. This marked an important step toward the stabilisation and further development of the congregation. “It is a young congregation with great growth potential,” explains Apostle Diniz.
Currently it consists of 48 members and is served by three Priests and one Deacon. Ministers from the Portugal North church district oversee the congregation. Across the country, Portugal now has a total of 21 New Apostolic congregations, comprising some 5,400 members and 57 ministers.
The dedication service for the new premises in Sangalhos took place on 21 December 2025. Apostle Diniz conducted the divine service and, for the dedication, read from 2 Chronicles 6: 20: “… that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.”
Photo: INA Portugal
