It was the first New Apostolic school. The Escola Nova Apostólica in Portugal is celebrating its fortieth anniversary—a milestone made even more special by the participation of a youth choir that travelled there especially for the occasion.

The Escola Nova Apostólica in Carcavelos-Sassoeiros near Lissabon was inaugurated on 29 September 1985. However, the anniversary celebration took place now, on 27 June 2026, at the New Apostolic Church in Sassoeiros. Guests included parents and families, former pupils and staff, as well as representatives from the education sector in Cascais. 

“Four decades of education, four decades of supporting young people, four decades of practising our values,” said District Apostle Stefan Pöschel, summarising the school’s history.  The aim, he explained, had been to create a place where children could acquire knowledge while at the same time developing as individuals. Respect, honesty, responsibility, and trust are among the principles instilled in everyday school life.

Education with integrity

District Apostle Pöschel paid special tribute to the work of Fátima Jeronimo, who has led the Escola Nova Apostólica since its establishment.  Over four decades, she built up the school, shaped it, and guided it through changes. The school principal herself recalled District Apostle Hermann Engelauf, who opened the school in 1985. He had had the courage back then to invest in children and their education.‌

A representative of the municipal authorities in Cascais highlighted the cooperation between the Escola Nova Apostólica, the public schools, and other educational institutions in the region.  This is important, he said, because it serves the same aim: to provide children with good educational and developmental opportunities.  The Escola Nova Apostólica, a private school, not only imparts academic knowledge but also supports children in their personal development and in the formation of their character.  

<

>

Open to children of all denominations

The New Apostolic Church had acquired a plot of land in Sassoeiros in the early 1980s. Both a church and the school were built there. At the time, it was the first New Apostolic school in the world. The Church continues to make the school premises available to the school to this day.  The Escola Nova Apostólica funds its operations through parental contributions and public funding.

The school is a primary school, comprising years one to four, three kindergarten groups, and a nursery. It welcomes children of all religious denominations and backgrounds.

Voices bound for Lisbon 

The pupils marked the anniversary with a humorous play and a performance by the school choir. The celebration was further enriched by a special twenty-minute programme presented by the Youth Concert Choir of the New Apostolic Church Western Germany. Around a hundred young people from Germany had travelled to Portugal to perform a selection of choral works.

During their stay, the concert choir also participated in several other school events. Their concert tour spanned several days and included a performance at the grade four graduation ceremony on the day before the anniversary celebration.

<

>

Prelúdio Lisboa: setting the stage for Lisbon

The Youth Concert Choir of the New Apostolic Church Western Germany had prepared for their concert tour to Portugal with a workshop concert entitled Prelúdio Lisboa.  

On 13 June 2026, around one hundred young singers presented the programme at the Herne-Wanne-Eickel church, before performing it in Portugal at the end of June. The concert combined classical choral works with modern sacred songs, gospel music, and film scores.  

The donations collected at the workshop concert will benefit young members from Portugal, who have been invited to the Regional Church’s youth event in Frankfurt, Germany, in September 2026. The funds will help cover their travel expenses.

<

>

Photos: Frank Schuldt, Simon Skrzypczak