Members

Portugal

The Internacional Women’s movement, The Grail, arrived in Lisbon, in 1957, with Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo and Teresa Santa Clara Gomes, later establishing in Coimbra and Portalegre.

In its more than 60 years of experience in promoting and organizing initiatives, the Grail has sought to provide Portuguese society, and particularly women, with conditions for valuation and permanent education leading to the development of personal and social skills, critical analysis and mobilization for a transforming intervention, as well as contexts for deepening faith and spiritual and community sharing.

In recent years, the Grail has promoted programs and projects aimed at equal opportunities between women and men, strengthening the role of women in leadership and decision-making, the fight against all forms of discrimination, education for a multicultural society and for planetary citizenship, reflection on development, and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking African countries.

The Grail was established as a Social and Cultural Association in 1977, and was recognized as a Public Utility Organization in 1985.

It is also recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization for Development (NGDO), a member of the Platform of Non-Governmental Organizations for Development and the Platform for Refugee Support (PAR). It is a founding member of the Platform for Women’s Rights (PpDM), sits on the Advisory Board of the Commission for Gender Equality (CIG) and the Economic and Social Council (CES). She is a member of the Caring for our Common Home Network and the National Conference of the Lay Apostolate (CNAL).

As group of women, praying, celebrating, reflecting and exploring our common spirituality are at the core of our collective being. Standing in the Christian Tradition and Spirituality and open to other spiritual searches, we have tried to be committed to a world in transition, which needs us to be ever more inclusive.  

Grail Centers, Projects and Activities:

  • International gatherings and assemblies for deepening and growing in the Grail
  • Programs and seminars for study, spiritual reflection and exchange as well as celebrations during the liturgical year for the Easter Triduum, feast of All Saints, Advent, Lent and Pentecost
  • Action on behalf of migrants and refugees
  • Educational projects and residential programs focused on the climate crisis and the restoration of biodiversity
    • Project SOLGAIA – Development of awareness of the need to respect the earth and awareness of alternative energies
    • Partnerships – Caring for the Common House Network
    • “Time is for children” Project – an approach to the problem of consumerism and experimentation of “alternative economies”
  • A focus on girls and women’s empowerment
    • Participation in the UN Commission on the Status of Women, working to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental disaster risk reduction policies and programs  
    • Girls Circle: Sharing ideas and experiences on the condition of girls and women in Portugal and in the rest of the world 
    • Residential programs, summer camps and study weeks for girls 
    • NAMORArte+: Preventing and combating dating violence and promoting equal rights and opportunities for boys and girls
  • Time Banking: System of solidarity exchanges. Everyone’s time is of equal value.
  • Youth in Terraço (Grail Center: provides opportunities for young people to gather to think critically about reality and search for alternatives to our life style. 

Grail Center in Golegã: Established in 1983 as a space for meeting, rest, reflection and creativity. It is a residential center that hosts national and international meetings over the years. It is also a place to live in community. 

Grail Center in Lisbon – Terraço:  The Grail Center in Lisbon was created in 1983 with the intention to develop a cultural center, a meeting point, a contemplative site, a rooftop overlooking the city of Lisbon. It has been a place for spiritual dynamism that roots people in today’s societal challenges and draws them into commitment for a better quality of life and into “transforming the world”.

 

Reordering the World into a New Transparency

Yes, it is exactly that, yes!
The Grail is a space, a place, a territory, indeed
A rhythm, a breath, a strength
A foolish adventure
Towards the rising sun
We try to disorder the world
In order to reorder it into new transparency.
The question of compassion as the first question,
Poised before the Horizon, the Source.

The Grail asks for the right question in order to become visible.
That question will always be linked to compassion towards the world and the other.
An intelligent question open to the Spirit
Listening and feeling life,
Closing our eyes
In order to see.

From: “Roots of the future” performed at the 50th anniversary of the Grail in Portugal, 2008