The Sovereign Mother was inscribed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Confirmation of the inclusion of this cultural and religious manifestation of the municipality of Loulé in this list took place today, with the publication of an advertisement in the Diário da República.
"This is a dream come true and a great responsibility for us to fulfill all the requirements that we are obliged with this registration", he told the Sul Informação Dália Paula, who has always been closely linked to this process and to the candidacy submitted by the parish of São Sebastião de Loulé, first as director of the Department of Human Development and Cohesion of the Loulé Council and, later, as municipal director.
«It is a great happiness. We are very happy and proud», he reinforced.
After all, this classification is the recognition of «a job we did in 2015 preparing all the necessary documentation and successfully submitting the application for inscription of the cult of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage».
“It took as long as it took, but five years later – because, curiously, the submission was made in August 2015 – we have the process concluded, with the public consultation carried out and with all the opinions always favorable”, added Dália Paulo.
This recognition is, he believes, "a major step towards affirming this identity, which is not only from Loulé, but also from the whole Algarve, because we are talking about the most important Marian event in the south of Fátima".
As for the added responsibility that classification entails, the Loulé municipal director is confident about the future.
“We are already doing what this classification requires, because we are talking about the issue of dissemination and investigation of cultural manifestations”, he explained.
"We continued to publish books and exhibits after 2015. We continued to do both education and dissemination," said Dália Paula.
Now, it is necessary to “continue to work to maintain the ranking”.
«Sometimes one thinks: classification is to crystallize. But no, on the contrary! The Intangible Heritage is to be rethought at every moment and adapted to today», he defended.
“That's why it's important. If the process is no longer dynamic, it can no longer be classified as intangible cultural heritage," he explained.
This continuation and even the intensification of this dynamic will be decisive for another dream that the Câmara de Loulé and the Loulé people and the living forces of the municipality cherish: The classification of the Sovereign Mother as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Dália Paulo does not hide that this is "a first step" in this direction and that the autarchy is counting on moving forward with this candidacy.
“We have this ambition. We've already started the work, with everything we've been doing in terms of publishing books and creating knowledge about this party», he said.
Also the collaboration with the parish, “to create a place, so that people can see the Sovereign Mother, throughout the year, and that reinforces her importance in the county and in the region”, is important.
“This is a job that takes time. When we think we are mature enough to start this challenge, we will do it», he guaranteed.
«In fact, from the first hour that the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage challenges us to apply the heritage of humanity», recalled Dália Paulo.
In other words, «the objective, of course, is still there» and the Loulé City Council will «continue to work» to achieve this important international distinction for the cultural and religious manifestation that Loulé people cherish the most.
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