Padre Aleixo

THE FOUNDER

Priest Aleixo Xavier de Maria Cordeiro
(29th January 1916, Mapuçá, Goa ― 27th January 1998, Carcavelos, Portugal)

Father Aleixo was born into a deeply Christian family with a profound apostolic awareness, which always fostered a sense of care, openness and acceptance towards others, particularly the most vulnerable. Such an environment played a decisive role in three of the eleven brothers becaming priests.

Ordained presbyter on the 9th October 1938, in Goa, he later went to Rome to pursue his studies. However, from 1940 onwards, due to World War II, he established himself in the Patriarchate of Lisbon.

A man of great intelligence, remarkable culture and extraordinary educational skills, he served as a teacher at the Almada seminary for nearly  eleven years, leaving an enduring impression on those who knew him.

Extremely passionate about the Christianity Courses, he dedicated many years of his life to the Movement, becoming its Diocesan and National Director.

At the parish level ― and always in the Lisbon Diocese ― he worked at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish for about four years; between 1956 and 1970, he served as parish priest in Ajuda and, finally, in Carcavelos, his last parish where he worked for almost 27 years.

It is exactly in this parish service that his extraordinary pastoral sense became most evident, along with his unique vision regarding the role of the Church in the today’s world.

Such a vocation, pursued with discretion and humility, was based on an intense life of prayer and self-giving to others. He welcomed all, served all and loved all, especially the most vulnerable and the outcast, while always fully respecting the Human Person, freedoms and choices included.

These gifts, together with a great sense of initiative, creativity and determination, paved the way for a true Community: a place where People know each other, care about each other and establish bonds of solidarity and sharing.

He saw this project come to life with the foundation, in 1981, of  Carcavelos Parish Community Center (CCPC), which, in many ways, is a pioneering project, which truly reflects the wonderful spirit which always moved Father Aleixo Cordeiro.

TIMELINE

NOVEMBER/1980
Admission of the first permanent staff (1 technician, 1 social worker trainee and 1 auxiliary worker).

1981
MARCH – Day Care Centre.
Leisure time activities for children.
Official OPENING OF THE CENTRE (16th May 1981).

1982
HOLIDAYS programmes for the elderly.
PORTA ABERTA (Open door) – Leisure time activities for children during holidays.
WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
Coro Vocal Da Capo – choir.

1983
HAIRDRESSER for the elderly.
SUMMER COURSES for young people.
CCPC sports group and Youth Club.
Legal help services.

1984
HOME CARE and soup for the elderly.
MEDICAL and NURSING services.
LAUNDRY services.

1985
INTERVELOS – local institutions network.
Neighourhood ANIMATION ACTIVITIES

1986
CAIJ – Centro de Apoio e Informação Jovem (Information and support centre for young people).
International  Peace Week
Occupational programmes for young people.
“CHRISTMAS on the Streets” iniciative

1987
COMPUTER COURSES – Inforjovem for young people
Newsletter “ÁGORA”.
The CAIJ visits several schools in order to share information.
The CAIJ presents a radio programme at Rádio Marginal.
First Meeting of BRINCADEIRA (Play) with the participation of the primary schools of Carcavelos.
InterCentre meetings

1988
PHOTOCOPY service.
AJAC – Associação de Jovens Artesãos de Carcavelos (Carcavelos Association of young craftspeople).
VOLUNTEERING – Organisation of the volunteering section at the institution.

1989
“PLAY PMEETING” – Annual meeting of the primary schools of Carcavelos with the participation of the elderly.

1990
Construction of the new Building (May).
The AJAC participates in the FIL – Crafts Fair

1991 
16th July – Formal inauguration of the new building.

1992
REFUGEE SUPPORT.
Elderly CHOIR GROUP

1993
BAC – Bolsa de Alimentos de Carcavelos (Food Bank of Carcavelos) – Fighting social exclusion.
Participation in the EUROPEAN NETWORK OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS  for the elderly and solidarity between generations through the organisation of several events.
FOLKLORE group for the elderly.

1994
“GERAÇÕES” European MAGAZINE.
Providing support to drug addicts and people with HIV in collaboration with other services.
Inforjovem – computer trainning courses
INTERVELOS – local institutions network
Part of the editorial staff of “GERAÇÕES”, an international magazine.

1995
ESPERANÇA DE RECOMEÇAR (The hope of a new beginning) – Organised support service to homeless drug addicts.
TUTORING CLASSES for children from underprivileged families.

“CAIS” Magazine – distribution centre.
Seniors THEATRE group (Espaço Senior)
“OUTRO LADO DO JOGO” (The other side of the game) – Leisure and educational activities programme for children from underprivileged families.
Youth EXCHANGE programme with Ireland – Roscommon.

1996
“NOITES NO CENTRO” (Nights at the Centre) – Cultural projects for youngsters.
SOCIAL ACTION GROUPS – Volunteering among underprivileged families.
Participation in the conference “Vieillir … entre exclusion et Solidarité” – Brussels.
“APRENDER SONHAR E CRESCER” (Learning, dreaming and growing up) – Sports and leisure activities for teenagers.

1997
UNIVA – Unidade de Inserção na Vida Ativa (Integration into working life unit), in cooperation with the IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) – Employment and Vocational Training Institute.
Adult LITERACY classes

1998
The Centre is granted the status of “Legal Person of Public Utility” (DR – 18.04.1998).
“REINVENTAR A COMUNIDADE” (Community revitalizing programme)
“CRIA”- Project designed to provide support and information to people with HIV.
Youth EXCHANGE programme with Iceland.

1999
The Centre receives a donation of a land plot in Algarve from the couple Manuel and Rosa – Sta. Bárbara de Nexe.
EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE- The Centre becomes a sending Institution.
Project BAC is renamed PROJECTO INTERVIR (PROJECT INTERVENE) – Integrated support to underprivileged families.
Organisation of the International CONGRESS of Gerontology.
Participation in the INTERNATIONAL MEETING of Gerontology in Gallarat (Italy) and Belgium (Louvain-la-Neuve).

2000
Purchase of the property which would become the Casa Jubileu 2000 (Jubilee House 2000).
“Vida Emprego” (Life Employment) PROGRAMME – Professional integration service for former drug addicts.
Project “AMBIENTARTE” – arts festival for young people in Quinta da Alagoa gardens
Workshops on CREATIVITY – With Diego Parra Duque
Cascais Municipal Council grants a plot of land to construct an extension to the CCPC building.

2001
Local VOLUNTEERING network.
Opening (18th October) of the Jubilee House 2000 – Residential facility for homeless men.
Projects ECOSD ‘ ART and ECOBRINCARTE.
EXCHANGE programme with Italy.
GRANTS for projects promoted by young people in partnership with Cascais Municipal Council

2002
“FÉRIAS EM ACÇÃO” (Holidays activities) – Holiday programme for teenagers.

2003
SOCIAL COMMITTEE OF CARCAVELOS – Executive branch.

2004
Taking part in Cascais VOLUNTEERING GUIDE.
Afther School for students from 10 to 13 years old

2005
Release of the first CD recorded by the Senior Choir.
Leisure activities – Winner of the first prize at the FESTIVAL DE DANÇA INFANTIL (Children’s dance festival).
“Cem Gestos Com Solidariedade” (One hundred solidarity gestures)  – Fundraising exhibition for the construction CCPC new building.
Training for home service providers (housekeepers).

2006
25th anniversary of CCPC
Exit apartment inauguration – Jubilee House 2000
Second Hand Market “feira do vende tudo”

2007
“Mães no Centro” (Mothers at the centre) – A place where mothers can meet and share their experiences.

2008 
“Geração C store” with support of the Cascais Municipal Council
Community Centre planner.

2009
16th May – Laying of the foudation stone of the new building.
October – Beginning of the construction of the new building
The Centre is recognised by the IES – Institute for social entrepreneurship – for the project “Reutilização” (Reuse).
The UNIVA is renamed GIP – Gabinete de Inserção Profissional (Professional inclusion office).

2010
Quality Certification process under ISO 9001:2008
Greenfest
volunteers from grupo José de Mello

2011
Quality certification under ISO 9001:2008, granted by the SGS.

2012
Day Nursery, Cascais helpline for seniors, Social canteen, “Centro.come” restaurant,
“Stock Social” second hand store project – Matarraque with the support of Galp Energia
“Vizinhos com Alma” (Neighbours with soul) – food campaign

2013
“House of Hope” – housing for homeless people.
“Corações Cheios” second hand store (Riviera Center)
“O CENTRO SOU EU” – fundraising campaign
Workshop recycling furniture

2014
CENTRO.come – social restaurant open to the community.
“Mercearia no Centro” (Grocer’s store at the Centre)
“Loja Geração C” closure
Lean Programme

2015
Furniture store
Requalification of Jubilee House with the support of LIDL
Deloitte Pact Fund support at furniture recycling workshop

2016
Second hand project “Stock Social” renamed to “Re-coopera”
“À Descoberta” – teenagers leisure time activities programme
Hosting a refugee family from Syria

2017
ISO 9001-2005
“Entre (in)Vista iniciative  – gathering employees and unemployde people
Hosting EVS volunteers

2018
“Espaço Raízes” – occupational therapy programme for elderly
Fundação Manuel Violante programme (Programa de Imersão na academia)
Cascais helpline for seniors closure

2019
New Re-coopera shop at Galerias do Junqueiro (01/06)

Centro Comunitário da Paróquia de Carcavelos

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