Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
Day of Portugal | US Secretary of State Marco Rubio honors Portugal June 10th | Day of Portugal celebrations underway at home and across the diaspora Diplomacy | Portugal elected to the United Nations Security Council World Cup Book | Miracle of the Roses | By Angela Costa Simões | Editor’s Note
 

Day of Portugal | US Secretary of State Marco Rubio honors Portugal –  Washington, DC

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an official statement on June 10, 2026, marking Portugal Day, officially known as “Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas” (Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities). In his message, Secretary Rubio emphasized the historic friendship between the two countries, highlighting shared democratic values, economic […]

June 10th | Day of Portugal celebrations underway at home and across the diaspora – Terceira, Azores

On June 10, 2026, Portugal celebrates its National Day, officially known as Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas (Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities). The annual observance honors Portugal’s history, culture, and the contributions of Portuguese communities around the world. The holiday also commemorates the legacy of Portugal’s sixteenth-century poet,  […]

Diplomacy | Portugal elected to the United Nations Security Council – New York, NY

Portugal was elected on Wednesday as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term, marking the fourth time the country has secured a seat on the UN’s principal body for maintaining international peace and security. Portugal previously served on the Council in 1979–1980, 1997–1998, and 2011–2012. “We were members of […]

World Cup’26 | Portuguese squad among the leading contenders – Portugal

Portugal’s squad is preparing for one of the nation’s strongest FIFA World Cup campaigns in history as the ‘Seleção’ heads to the 2026 tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Led by head coach Roberto Martínez, Portugal enters the tournament among the leading contenders for the championship. Drawn into Group K, Portugal will […]

Book | Miracle of the Roses | By Angela Costa Simões | Editor’s Note

Miracle of the Roses is a beautifully crafted book that brings to life one of the most beloved legends of Queen Saint Isabel of Portugal-a story of quiet courage, compassion, and unwavering faith. Through engaging storytelling and thoughtfully designed pages, readers are invited to discover the powerful moment when an act of hidden charity was […]

Book | Slavery and Religious Conversion in Portugal’s Indian Empire, 1500-1700 | By Stephanie Hassel – Editor’s Note

29 April 2025

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, enslaved Africans and Asians were part of the larger Portuguese project of building and maintaining a Catholic empire in the Indian Ocean. Both the Church and the Crown influenced the owner-slave relationship across households, the most basic organizational unit of power over the populace. Responsible for their enslaved dependents’ […]

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

Travel Alert | Massive power outage paralysed airports  – Portugal

28 April 2025

Portugal experienced a nationwide power outage today, April 28, as part of a widespread blackout that also affected Spain, France, and other European countries. The exact cause is still under investigation. The outage began around 12:30 p.m. local time, severely disrupting airports in major cities including Lisbon, Porto, and Faro. The Lisbon Metro, trains, and […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Madeira, Portugal, Travel, World

Azores | Pace University students visited the Azores to learn about Viola da Terra – New York, NY

27 April 2025

Pace University students, enrolled in the “Producing the Documentary” course (MCA 370/MCA 655), recently traveled to the Azorean islands of São Miguel and Terceira to film a documentary titled Viola da Terra: Harmony of the Azores. As part of a faculty-led study abroad program, the project explored the cultural significance of the Viola da Terra, […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Community, Education, Entertainment, Featured, Film, Heritage, Music, Organizations, People, São Miguel, Terceira

In Memoriam | The Portuguese nation mourns Pope Francis (1936-2025) – Portugal

23 April 2025

The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning in honor of Pope Francis, following his death on April 21, expressing the nation’s respect and recognition of his contributions to global peace and social justice. The Portuguese government also declared three days of national mourning from April 24 to 26. During this period, flags across […]

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

Community | Rhode Island College to suspend Portuguese language courses – Providence,RI

22 April 2025

Rhode Island College (RIC) has announced it will suspend several academic programs, including the Portuguese concentration within the Modern Languages BA, beginning in Fall 2025, prompting community outcry.  Community advocates are calling on RIC leadership to reverse course and engage meaningfully with students, faculty, and stakeholders. The decision, outlined in RIC’s recently released Productivity and […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Education, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Organizations, People, Portugal

Book | Sorrowful Mysteries: The Shepherd Children of Fatima and the Fate of the Twentieth Century | By Stephen Harrigan – Editor’s Note

18 April 2025

In 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, three shepherd children claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared before them and spoke the words, “Do not be afraid.” Stephen Harrigan first heard the story of Our Lady of Fatima when he was a young boy attending a Catholic school in Texas in the 1950s, struggling to come to grips […]

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