Article sponsored by the Banco Comercial dos Açores, Toronto

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN VANCOUVER - CANADA

The Holy Spirit Festival
Organized by the "Tradição da Ilha Terceira"Association
June 1-2, 2002

The Portuguese communities of British Columbia gathered in Vancouver for the traditional Holy Spirit Celebrations. Although distanced by the vast territories that separate the Canadian east coast from the west, the Portuguese share, in these far off lands of the New World, the religious customs and rites of the old homeland, from whence they one day departed in search of hope and a brighter future for their own. The pioneer spirit of these people, very often founding pillars of contemporary North American societies, set out once more on yet another such enterprise, this time in Vancouver, in a collective effort to unite the Luso Canadians of the region for the Holy Spirit Festivities.

The organizing committee, comprised of members of the "Tradição da Ilha Terceira" Association and led by Jorge Lima, has had the task of organizing this event for the past two years. Its primal objective is to promote the united celebration of Azorean traditions among the Portuguese communities of British Columbia. This year a larger number of community associations have adhered to the event. The Holy Spirit Brotherhood "Amigos do Pico", the Portuguese Association of the Holy Spirit de Osoyoos, B.C., and the Portuguese Holy Spirit Brotherhood of the Cultural Society of B.C. from Surrey, B.C. have contributed to enlivening the colourful diversity of this year’s traditional Holy Spirit procession.

The Holy Spirit Festivities commenced with the Rosary at the Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hall on the Saturday afternoon. The Reverend Father Orso, parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed the Holy Spirit pensões (individual hampers containing traditional portions of meat, sweetbread and wine), during which ceremony the Portuguese Band of Vancouver played the Portuguese, Canadian and Holy Spirit Anthems. Then followed the customary auctioning of food hampers and traditional craftwork and a bazaar sale. The day ended with a lively evening of fraternization and dancing, with music by the Toronto band, the Panteras.

Sunday, June 2. The Holy Spirit Procession made its way from the Church Hall to the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. Here, Father Richard celebrated Mass and presided over the Crowning ceremony. Back once more at the Church Hall, the traditional Holy Spirit Soups, bread and a good glass of red were served. A word of praise for the team of lady volunteers, supervised by Mrs. Matilde Amaral, whose loving hands came up with all those delicious delicacies.

The Folkdance Groups "Chamarritas do Pico" and "Rancho da Saudade" of the Portuguese Senior Foundation filled the afternoon with colour and rhythm, as did the solemn sounds of the Portuguese Band of Vancouver. The Toronto band, the Panteras, closed the evening with a rousing three-hour performance to a very receptive and appreciative audience.
A word of appreciation for all the friendly people we met in Vancouver and whose warm, fraternal hospitality made us feel so much at home everywhere. Adiaspora.com wishes to thank the members of the organizing committee and all those who made such a memorable event possible!