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British Columbia, Canada - 2002
The Holy Spirit Festival in Surrey, B.C., organized by the Irmandade
Portuguesa do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural Society of B.C.,
took place on the weekend of June 29 and 30, 2002. As in other parts of Canada where Azoreans have taken up residence,
here too, the faith and traditions of the cult to the Holy Spirit
have survived spatial-temporal distance, maintaining the dynamics
and religious rigour of the Festivals of their island homeland,
the Azores. On the west coast of Canada, the Portuguese immigrant
communities are heterogeneous unlike other regions of the country,
where Azoreans predominate. Consequently, people from other regions
of Portugal have, over the years, joined their Azorean compatriots
in the Holy Spirit Celebrations, where they too find comfort and
solace in a communal show of faith. The Holy Spirit Festival in
Surrey dates back to 1968, when Mr. Jose Pereira, the first president
of the Irmandade Portuguesa do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural
Society of B.C, organized the first community celebrations.
The festival program commenced on Saturday, June 29, with the holy rosary followed by the distribution of the Holy Spirit pensões or hampers, and the ever lively auctioning of foodstuffs, and gifts as well as a bazaar. The evening's fiesta, filled with music and dancing, carried on through the night with the Duo Joe & Nancy from Vancouver, who supplied the evening's musical entertainment. Traditional delicacies such as bifanas, stewed fava beans and massa sovada (sweet bread) were a delight to the palate.
On the morning of June 30, Mass was celebrated at the Irmandade
Portuguesa do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural Society of B.C.
Hall. The Rev. Varghese G. Edattutarar, parish priest at the Holy
Spirit Church in New Westminster, B.C, presided at the Mass, which
was then followed by the Coroação or Crowning Ceremony.
The colourful procession then wound its way through the streets
of the neighbourhood, accompanied by the Banda Lira Portuguesa
de Victoria B.C. (This band was founded in 1989 and is currently
led by Tamarae Alyward.).
In the procession, led by the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, were
the Tradição Ilha Terceira, Amigos do Pico,
Grupo Ilha da Madeira Holy Spirit Brotherhoods, the Portuguese
Senior Foundation Folkdance Group, the Knights of the Order
of Columbus and the hosting Brotherhood, Irmandade Portuguesa
do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural Society of B.C.
Among the dignitaries present at the event were Pedro Sampaio,
the Portuguese Consul-General in Vancouver, Messrs. Manuel Alvernaz
and José Santos, president and Secretary of the Irmandade
Portuguesa do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural Society of B.C.,
and Mr. Manuel Vieira, president of the Portuguese Band of Vancouver.
On Sunday afternoon the traditional Holy Spirit Soups were served
at the Hall. There was an abundance of good meat, bread and wine.
Ms. Zulmira Medeiros and Maria Alvernaz, along with their team of
volunteers, were responsible for the magnificent meal.
After everyone was well fed, further auctioning of foodstuffs. Towards the end of the afternoon, praising the community for their efforts in preserving and promoting Portuguese culture in these lands. Mr. Manuel Alvernaz, president of the Irmandade Portuguesa do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural Society of B.C., the hosting Brotherhood, thanked all who contributed to making the Surrey Holy Spirit Festival a resounding success, including the representatives of the local Police Force. Finally, the Tradição Ilha Terceira Brotherhood,
in the person of its president, Jorge Lima, generously presented
the Irmandade Portuguesa do Divino Espírito Santo Cultural
Society of B.C. with a cheque to the value of CD$4 800.
The festival continued throughout the evening with performances
by the Rancho da Saudade Folkdance Group, and the Lira
Portuguesa de Victoria Band. The evening ended with more dancing
and music provided by the Duo Joe & Nancy.
Adiaspora.com wishes to congratulate the
Portuguese community of Surrey for organizing such a memorable event.
We hope to be back next year! |
