Hundreds of onlookers lined the streets in Point Loma on Sunday, June 9 to watch the Portuguese Festa do Espirito Santo parade, one of San Diego’s oldest ethnic celebrations, travel up Avenida de Portugal from the UPSES Hall to St. Agnes on Evergreen Street, where High Mass was celebrated, along with the coronations of the festival king and queen.
This year’s festival presidents are Mr. and Mrs. Anthony DaSilva. The Festa Queen is Grace DaSilva.
The feast has been celebrated by the Portuguese for the last 700 years amid the lore of Queen St. Isabel, who was said to have rescued her countrymen from starvation. The festival has been mounted in San Diego since the City’s first Portuguese families settled here in 1884. It was formally organized in 1910.
“The event pays homage, and is our Portuguese dedication to, the Holy Spirit and her belief in God and serving the people,” said Diana Balelo, UPSES Hall president. Since 1922, the Chapel next to the UPSES Hall is used to house the Crown of the Holy Spirit during the Festa. On Pentecost Sunday, devotees of the Holy Spirit visit the Chapel to pray and offer a donation of monies or Portuguese sweet breads (sold to raise funds) to continue the religious celebration.