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. […]

Book: ‘Voyage to India’ by Gonçalo M. Tavares – Editor’s Note

19 December 2016

Voyage to India is the story of Bloom, our hero, as he makes his way from Lisbon to India in a decidedly non-heroic age. Gone are the galleons, gone is god; so too the swords of the swashbuckler and sacerdotal certainty. In such an era, where is wisdom to be found? Bloom―ever deliberate, ever longwinded―takes […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured

Portugal: Pope Francis to visit Portugal on May 2017 – Vatican City

17 December 2016

The offices of the Vatican and the President of Portugal have confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Fátima, Portugal, on May 12-13 of next year, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Marian Apparitions. According to the Catholic News Agency, “On the occasion of the centenary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, Religion, World

C7R: Cristiano Ronaldo awarded 4th Ballon d’Or – Paris, France

14 December 2016

Portuguese international footballer Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d’Or award presented by the prestigious France Football  magazine to the soccer player with the best performance of the year. The announcement took place  in Paris, France, on Monday, December 12. Ronaldo had received the honor in 2014, 2013, and 2008. He was picked from a […]

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Posted in Awards, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal, Sports, World

Book: ‘Cattle of the Lord: Poems’ by Rosa Alice Branco – Editor’s Note

13 December 2016

Love. Sex. Death. Meat. Traffic. Pets. In Cattle of the Lord, Rosa Alice Branco offers a stunning poetic vision at once sacred and profane, a rich evocation of daily life troubled by uneasy sacramentality. In a collection translated by Alexis Levitin and presented in both Portuguese and English, readers find themselves in a world turned […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Today in History: António Guterres sworn in as 9th UN Secretary General – United Nations

12 December 2016

Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres was sworn in as Secretary-General of the United Nations today, December 12, at a ceremony in which Portugal was represented by the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister António Costa. António Guterres begins his five-year term of office on January 1, 2017. He was […]

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Posted in Community, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, World

Martin Scorsese: The epic journey of Portuguese Jesuits in 17th century Japan – Paramount Pictures

11 December 2016

The highly anticipated religious drama, Silence,produced and directed by Martin Scorsese, tells the heroic deeds of two young Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in 17th century Japan. Premiered in Vatican City on November 29, with the participation of Pope Francis, the film will be released in selected theaters in the United States on December 23, and nationwide starting January […]

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Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Film, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World