Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Pandemic: Portugal expects infections to rise exponentially- Update

22 March 2020

Official numbers this  Sunday’s revealed that 14 Portuguese nationals have died victims of the COVID19 epidemic. There were 1,600 confirmed cases, 320 additional cases in last 24 hours, with 169 hospitalized and 41 in intensive care. Five patients have since recovered and 1,152 were waiting for test results. The total number of suspected cases is […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Book: ‘Rossio Square N.°59’ by Jeannine J. Maia – Editor’s Note

20 March 2020

April 1941: After fleeing wartime France, 17-year-old Claire arrives at Rossio train station in Lisbon. She immediately crosses paths – in the most inauspicious of ways – with Antonio, a young Portuguese waiter, aspiring artist and, when necessary, pickpocket. The Chave d’Ouro café where Antonio works is a hotspot for the plotters and spies flocking […]

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Posted in Books, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Travel Alert: Azores Airlines suspends flights to the US and Canada – Update

18 March 2020

SATA Azores Airlines announced on Wednesday that it will suspend all flights to the United States and Canada, due to the COVID19 pandemic. Flights to and from Boston will be temporarily suspended from March 21 until March 31. The last flight to and from Boston is scheduled for March 20. Flights to and from Toronto […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Faial, Featured, Madeira, Organizations, Pico, Portugal, Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, Travel, World

Pandemic: Portugal to declare State of Emergency – Update

17 March 2020

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to declare a State of Emergency on Wednesday to further decree measures to fight the fast-moving COVID19 pandemic. The move, which follows the declaration of a State of Alert last week, would suspend and/or restrict some constitutional rights and liberties, including the right to free movement. The situation […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, Travel, World

Book: ‘Smiling in the Darkness’ by Adelaide Freitas – Editor’s Note

05 March 2020

Many people of Portuguese descent take pride in claiming that the word “saudade” is untranslatable. In reality, we come close with a melding of bittersweet nostalgia, bone-­deep longing, and an endless yearning for what one can never have again—­or indeed may never have had. Adelaide Freitas dipped her pen in saudade to tell of family […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, People, Portugal

Porto: First two confirmed cases of coronavirus – Portugal

02 March 2020

Portugal is one of the latest countries to confirm two cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, Health Minister Marta Temido revealed. Two men were hospitalized in Porto and are “in a stable condition and in good general health,” Temido said. The first case is  a 60-year-old man who traveled to Italy recently. The other case is […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, People, Portugal, São Miguel, Terceira, World