Lurdes C. da Silva O Jornal – Published August 8, 2023
FALL RIVER – The Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England is arguably the biggest Azorean feast in North America and its organizers are hoping it will bring around 200,000 visitors, from near and far, to Fall River’s Kennedy Park from Aug. 23 to 27.
“This feast belongs to the whole community,” emphasized Herberto Silva, the president of the 2023 celebration. “We’re here to receive you.”
Serving for the first time as Great Feast president, the Lowell resident said he grew up with the traditional Holy Ghost rituals and religious celebrations in his hometown of Porto Judeu in the island of Terceira, Azores. Most recently, he was the president of the Holy Ghost Society of Lowell and also president of the Pawtucket-based Grupo Amigos da Terceira, where he hosted several annual Holy Ghost feasts.
As far as the Great Feast goes, Silva said he isn’t anticipating any big changes this year.
“We’re taking the opinions of people who have been serving here the longest because they know how this works,” said Silva, who was elected for a two-year term.
“Now, I’m not saying that next year, knowing how this works, we will not bring in some new things,” he added. “Let’s build on the ideas of our antecessors and put it into practice.”
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