História

O Recolhimento de Santa Maria Madalena foi fundado em 3 de Fevereiro de 1594, pelo padre Corvelo Resende, que juntamente com seus irmãos decidiram construir na vila um convento da Ordem das Clarissas, com o nome Santa Maria Madalena.

Do Convento não nos resta nenhum elemento arquitectónico do século XVI, visto este ter sofrido diversas alterações ao longo dos séculos. Desde a sua fundação, o Convento ficou subordinado à autoridade religiosa e regido por estatutos emitidos pelo Episcopado dos Açores. No século XIX, o Convento foi administrado pelo capitão Francisco Xavier até 1829, seguindo-se Alexandre José Barros até 1833.

Em 29 de Novembro de 1841, António Lúcio Pinto, que era Secretário da Câmara Municipal, foi eleito como o primeiro Administrador que permitiu um grande desenvolvimento no Recolhimento.

Em 1938, é dado um passo importante no sentido de regularizar o conceito de Instituição, com a aprovação dos Estatutos pelo Governador Civil de Ponta Delgada.

Podemos assim resumir que, desde a sua fundação em 1594, o Recolhimento foi administrado por padroeiros, até Outubro de 1841.

Em Outubro de 2001, o Recolhimento é considerado Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Recolhimento de Santa Maria Madalena