Igreja São José do Desterro: memória, história e identidade do bairro desterro, Centro histórico de São Luís-MA

Abstract

This monograph addresses the relationship between heritage, identity and memory in the context of the neighborhood of Desterro, in São Luís-MA, with emphasis on the Igreja São José do Desterro and the religious history that founded this population nucleus. The general objective is to understand the centrality of the Church in the cultural, social and religious formation of the local community. The adopted methodology involves an interdisciplinary approach in the heritage field, with documentary analysis, bibliographic review, direct observation and semi-structured interviews with ten inhabitants and members of the São José do Desterro Church for the Oral History methodology. I have as a theoretical basis Cultural History and Micro-History, supported by the collection and interpretation of two original stories, the results obtained indicate that the church plays an essential role both as a religious reference, as well as as a symbol of identity and collective belonging, in addition to being a framework for Maranhense sacred architecture and art. Highlights, also, sacred objects, religious celebrations, popular cultures and daily activities associated with the Church and Largo do Desterro, which reinforce community ties and collective memory. On the other hand, challenges in material and immaterial preservation of heritage have been identified, related to urbanization and social changes. The study concluded that the Igreja São José do Desterro is a central element in the temporal articulation of the historical process of São Luís, making its preservation indispensable for the continuity of memory and local cultural identity.