Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Nazareth

“A church that looks like a split-level home?” you might ask, tilting your head at the Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Nazareth. And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Here at the corner of Jozef Israel- and Rubenstraat, the Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Nazareth, or Nossa Senhora de Nazaré as it’s known in Portuguese, doesn’t quite fit the traditional image of a church. No towering steeple greets the sky. Instead, a large cross above the entrance and a sign displaying service times confirm its sacred purpose. Dedicated on February 14, 2015, Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Nazareth was a joint effort, brought to life by the diocese and both Surinamese and Brazilian entrepreneurs. The church holds a unique position within Suriname. Its air-conditioned interior offers a cool respite from the tropical heat. Glass sliding doors welcome you in, leading to an arrangement of upholstered chairs in a semi-circle, rather than the typical long pews. While chapels are absent, a prayer corner holds the Host and a large mural of Blessed Peter Donders, the Redemptorist. The Brazilian priests in Suriname belong to this same congregation. Another prayer corner houses the statue of Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, the church’s patron saint. Chosen because many Brazilian residents of Suriname are believed to originate from Belém, the icon connects them to the massive Círio de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré pilgrimage held there every October. Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil, and a statue of Saint Anthony, are also present in Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Nazareth. This church also embraces a unique minimalism. The octagonal altar, resting on intricate woodwork, is remarkably small. You’ll notice the absence of a large crucifix above the altar. However, there are plans to install one soon, although the low ceiling presents a challenge. The modest height and lack of the fourteen Stations of the Cross on the walls stem from the building’s original purpose as a parish hall. The true church building is yet to be built on the spacious grounds, along with a gymnasium and a sports field for children of St. Peter Donders School. The current setup at Onze Lieve Vrouw Van Nazareth, however, with its intimate capacity of fifty, or one hundred pre-COVID restrictions, seems to suit the needs of Suriname’s fluctuating Brazilian community. Join us for Sunday Mass at 9:00 am, or for Tuesday’s Marialof at 7:00 pm, or Thursday’s Holy Sacrament adoration, also at 7:00 pm. All services are conducted in Portuguese, but all are welcome.