Imagine three hunters. They are trekking through Madureira’s woods in 1894. They sought small game. Suddenly, they stumble upon an image of Saint Joseph resting on a stone. Legend says they built an altar to protect it. Each night, the image reappeared among the stones.
This is the story of Capela de São José da Pedra. It is also known as Capela de São José de Madureira. José Francisco Lisboa owned the land. He was moved by the story. He allowed a chapel to be built in Saint Joseph’s honor. The chapel was completed in 1931.
The Capela de São José da Pedra stands atop a hill. It overlooks Madureira. In 1978, a staircase was inaugurated. It has 366 steps. Locals joke it has one more step than Igreja da Penha’s staircase. But Igreja da Penha actually has over 380 steps.
The church is simple. It is a significant landmark for Madureira. Originally, the Irmandade de São José managed it. They belonged to the Paróquia São Luiz Gonzaga. Later, it became a chapel of the Paróquia de São Brás. This happened after the founding of the Paróquia de São Brás in 1958.
Even with difficult access, many visited. In 1978, Father Lobato led a campaign. He and parishioners of São Brás built the staircase. It made access easier.
At the top, a simple white chapel awaits. The main facade faces southwest. A single central door sits under a triangular frontispiece. A slender crucifix crowns it. Beside it, are the original stones. These stones once housed the image of the saint.
Inside Capela de São José da Pedra is a single nave. Wooden benches line the space. A stained-glass window sits behind the main altar. Sunlight streams through it.
Popular celebrations fill the area. Parties on March 19 honor the patron saint. Promises and ex-votos mark devotion. The views of the suburbs are incredible. The sounds of Jongo da Serrinha echo.
In 2004, the city provisionally listed Capela de São José da Pedra as a Historical Patrimony. The invasion and destruction is an act of intolerance. The Diário do Rio reported the depredation of Capela São José in 2023. The simple interior held little economic interest. The act likely aimed to clear a lookout for illicit activities.
Remember the story of Capela de São José da Pedra. Its origins, its faith and its cultural significance. It deserves respect and protection.