Holy Ghost Festival 2019

CONTACT INFO :

2nd Phone : (001) (209) 988-5254.
Fax : (001) (209) 216-5112.
E-mail : cojr22@gmail.com .

DESCRIPTION :

The Turlock Ballroom Pentecost Association is a catholic Portuguese organization based in Turlock, CA that was established in 1912 by Turlock's Azorean settlers. The Portuguese Ballroom was built in 1915, and the Chapel in 1921.

Presidents : Clarence Oliveira Jr. and Laurie Oliveira.
Vice Presidents : Nelson Fontes and Julia Fontes.

ABOUT THE EVENT :

HOLY GHOST FESTIVAL 2019.

The cult of the Holy Spirit (Portuguese : Culto do Divino Espírito Santo), also known as the cult of the Empire of the Holy Spirit (Culto do Império do Divino Espírito Santo), is a religious sub-culture, inspired by Christian millenarian mystics, associated with Azorean Catholic identity, consisting of iconography, architecture, and religious practices that have continued in many communities of the archipelago, as well as the broader Portuguese diaspora. Beyond the Azores, the Cult of the Holy Spirit is alive in parts of Brazil (where it was established three centuries ago) and pockets of Portuguese settlers in North America. The cult of the Holy Spirit involves traditional rituals and religious celebrations of these faith communities.

In its original sense, "cult" referred to an accepted religious practice, in sharp contrast to the term's modern, negative connotation. Devotion to the Holy Spirit is part of classical Catholic dogma and is the inspiration of several Catholic religious institutes, including the Spiritans, but what is considered here has peculiar characteristics of its own.

Two hundred years later, there was a rebirth of the popularity of the doctrines in the Azores ; their religious manifestations, rituals and symbols began to permeate the islands and, consequently, persist until today. These acts of faith were heavily influenced by Franciscan spiritualists, who were members of the first religious order that colonized the Azores, and brought with them traditions that were being extinguished on the mainland by Catholic Church orthodoxy. Here, in isolated communities under environmental pressures and the uncertainties of life, the millenarian rites of the Holy Spirit were accepted and fostered. The Azores, and those communities that had their origins in the archipelago, became the last outposts of Joachimite doctrines.

The origins of the modern cult and its rituals are not definitively understood. The dominant theory postulates that the celebrations were introduced into Portugal by Queen Elizabeth of Portugal. The cult's principal centre of devotion was in Tomar, which was also the location of the priory of the Order of Christ, charged with the spirituality of newly discovered lands (including the Azores). Another centre was Alenquer, where, in the first years of the 14th century, Queen Elizabeth introduced the first celebration of the Império do Divino Espírito Santo (English : Empire of the Divine Holy Spirit), probably influenced by Franciscan spiritualists, who there founded the first Franciscan Convent in Portugal. From there, the cult first spread in Portugal (Aldeia Galega, Alenquer, Sintra, Tomar, and Lisbon), and later accompanied the Portuguese during their Atlantic discoveries.

The new colonies were, from the beginning, subordinate to the priory in Tomar, later the archbishop of Funchal, and finally, the new bishopric of Angra do Heroísmo, which were overseen by the Order of Christ, who nominated new clerics, oriented the faithful and supervised the religious development. In this context, references to the proliferation of the cult of the Holy Spirit appeared early, and in a general way, throughout the archipelago. Gaspar Frutuoso, writing 150 years after the beginning of the island's settlement, indicated that this devotion existed in all the islands ; its expansion was tolerated, if not promoted, by the Order of Christ. References in the Constituições Sinodais da Diocese de Angra (approved in 1559) by the Bishop of Angra, Friar Jorge de Santiago, show that some attention was given to the cults by the episcopal authorities.

The existence of the Irmandades do Divino Espírito Santo (English : Brotherhoods of the Divine Holy Spirit) was first noted in the 16th century. The first hospital constructed in the Azores (1498), under the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Angra, received its current name, the Hospital do Santo Espírito. The distribution of food (meats, bread, milk) was already an important part of the charity common in the middle of the 16th century.

From then on, and in particular after the beginning of the 18th century, the cult of the Holy Spirit assumed a position of importance in Azorean culture, becoming a unifier of the population in the various islands. With Azorean emigration, the cult was transplanted to Brazil where, by the end of the 18th century, there existed feast days in Rio de Janeiro, in Bahia, and other zones where Azorean immigrants settled, such as Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Pernambuco. In the 19th century, the traditions spread to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Connecticut, and California in the United States, as well as to Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia in Canada.

Founded in 1913, the Turlock Ballroom Pentecost Association's Holy Ghost Festival of the city of Turlock, CA occurs annually at the third week of June, including the weekend. This year, the Festival will run during seven days, from June, 11th to 17th.

Start Time : 8:30 AM.
This is an all day FREE EVENT !

Indoor Concert and Outdoor Festival - All Ages - Portuguese Foods and Drinks Available.

An outdoor parking lots area is available at Turlock Town Center, a 102,361 square feet community shopping center located at 503-795 North Golden State Boulevard. An outdoor public parking lot is available too near the venue, located between North Broadway, West Canal Drive and Chestnut Street.

Organized by :

TURLOCK HOLY GHOST BROTHERHOOD
528 North Golden State Boulevard.
Turlock, CA 95380-3914.
UNITED STATES.
Phone : (001) (209) 499-0649.

DESCRIPTION :

The Turlock Holy Ghost Brotherhood is proud to continue with the traditions of our Portuguese heritage of celebrating our faith and devotion to the Holy Ghost for over 106 years. Through your generous support, we are able to extend a helping hand to those in need. We provide scholarships to students annually, take underprivileged children shopping for clothing at the holidays and provide support to the Turlock Helping Hands program. In 2018, we also contributed to the fire victims of the Santa Rosa area.

In August 2011, Azorean writer Liduíno Borba written the Turlock Holy Ghost Brotherhood's tribute book entitled "Irmandade do Espírito Santo de Turlock/Turlock Pentecost Association - 100 Anos", that is about the history of the Brotherhood's 100 years. The book was released by Turiscon Editora on May 30th, 2012 at the Turlock Portuguese Festival.

The Chapel :

Built in 1921, the interior of the Turlock Pentecost Association Chapel included an altar framed from behind by a large faux seashell lit with bulbs. A garland of painted roses encircled the room. The traditional symbol of the Holy Ghost (the dove) can be seen above the shell background.

LINEUP :

Jorge Ferreira's musicians performing on stage will be the members of Portuguese-American band "562", scheduled in this event as an opening band.

At 8:30 AM :
- Parade Formation on Canal Street, at the North of the Turlock Ballroom, Marching Up and Back in the Downtown Main Street of Turlock.

At 10:00 AM :
- Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Followed by Distribution of Soups and Auction. The Soups will be Served Again in the Evening.

At 1:00 PM :
- Auction on the Association's Back Patio.

At 5:00 PM :
- Folklore Dancing on the Association's Back Patio.

At 6:30 PM :
- Rosary Prayer.

At 8:00 PM : The Opening Performance.
- Portuguese-American band "562" (directly from Artesia, CA).

At 9:00 PM :
- Presentation of Queens and Turlock Holy Ghost Brotherhood.

At 10:00 PM : The Headline Artist.
- JORGE FERREIRA's CONCERT !!!