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1ST FESTIVAL OF AZOREAN CULTURE

QUEBEC 2002

"...The Azoreans ought to distinguish themselves in the countries where they reside, not only by active civic, professional and social participation, but also by the courage and excellence in the manner by which they bear witness to their cultural identity and affection for their roots, in a fashion in keeping with modern times and with Azorean sentiment…"

(Translation by Adiaspora.com of an excerpt from the speech delivered by the President of the Regional Government of the Azores at the Closing of the 1st Festival of Azorean Culture in Quebec)

Montreal, Gatineau and Laval were the venue for the 1st Festival of Azorean Culture of Quebec that took place between May 17 and 27, 2002. This event sought to reinforce the Azorean sentiment among the immigrant communities in the Province of Quebec, Canada, in its global socio-cultural dimension. The Festival, a privileged medium for strengthening ties between the contemporary reality and dynamics of the island homeland and the communities of the Azorean Diaspora, presented a very diverse program touching upon themes such as the historical, religious, socio-cultural and economic aspects of Azorean reality.

"…Nowadays, the Azores is undergoing a different phase of economic and social development. From an historical point of view, the Azores has been rapidly changing from a region of emigration to one of immigration. This adds to our responsibilities as far as external policy is concerned. The effort that we currently have to develop in aiding our communities i conserving their cultural identity, and our country in its mission of preserving the Portuguese language worldwide, are increasingly bigger challenges and of increasing importance, in a strategic sense, for the Portuguese
and Azorean identities…"

(Translation by Adiaspora.com of an excerpt from the speech delivered by the President of the Regional Government of the Azores at the Closing of the 1st Festival of Azorean Culture in Quebec)

Integrated in the traditionally Azorean religious Festivities of the Holy Spirit, Holy Christ and Our Lord of Miracles, the Festival boasted several guest speakers from Portuguese academic circles such as Professors Eduardo Ferraz da Rosa and Mário Alberto Alves Salgueiro from the University of the Azores, Rev. Father. Helder Fonseca Mendes, parish priest at the Angra Heroismo Cathedral and Dr. Duarte Nuno Lopes, who launched his latest book, "Peregrinação" in the course of the Festival.

"…Today, we have to anchor and found our ideal, the preservation of Azorean identity, on more lasting relations based on the Azorean experience and economic and cultural exchange capable of impacting the future…"
(Translation by Adiaspora.com of an excerpt from the speech delivered by the President of the Regional Government of the Azores at the Closing of the 1st Festival of Azorean Culture in Quebec)

The Adiaspora.com team went out to the region of Quebec to cover last three days of the Festival and Holy Spirit celebrations. Helio Meneses for RTP-Açores and Jose Mario Coelho for CIRV 88.9FM, FPTV and the O Milénio newspaper accompanied us on the trip. During our stay we had occasion to meet up with Fló da Silva of Streamline Magazine from Toronto and still other local members of the Quebec Luso Canadian press.

The Holy Spirit Festival Program for Saturday, May 25, began with Mass at 6 pm, followed by the transferral of the Holy Spirit Crown to the Império (Holy Spirit Chapel), distribution of pensões (hampers containing portions of meat, bread and wine) and the traditional auctions. The festivities continued throughout the evening, with performances by the Band "A Filarmónica de Montreal", the Folkdance Groups "Estrelas do Atlântico" from Montreal and "Ilhas de Encanto" from the Casa do Açores, Quebec while the group, REQUEST, provided the music for partygoers at the Community Centre

On Sunday, May 26, several local authorities and representatives of the Regional Government of the Azores took part in the Holy Spirit celebrations. The day's celebrations commenced with the Holy Spirit Procession from the home of Mr. And Mrs. Jose Rego to the Church of Our Lady of Fatima. Mr and Mrs. Rego were the mordomos or hosts of this year's Holy Spirit Celebrations. The bands, A Filarmónica Portuguesa de Montreal, Banda de N. Senhora dos Milagres, also from Montreal, and A Filarmónica de N. Senhora de Fátima from Hull, accompanied the proceedings.