More than 300,000 people came to Fall River, Mass, for the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England,August 2001.
There were 22 bands in the procession Houve 22 bandas na procissão
This is a front page article of the Portuguese Journal -- "O Jornal", published in Fall River.
On Monday night, August 27, 2001, at the Banquet at the White's Restaurant, in Westport, because all the speakers before me, spoke of the religious aspects of the Holy Ghost, I decided, in less than one minute, to give my punch line, connecting the Holy Ghost with the Portuguese-American Community, by asking who was the first Azorian that first came to Fall River?
Here is in the article the reaction of the hundreds of people that composed the audience at the banquet.
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In English |
Em Português |
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FALL RIVER - The Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England concluded Monday night with several rousing speeches at White’s of Westport after the festival drew more than 300,000 to the city streets. “The people are strongest when they are united and a united people can accomplish anything,” said Secretary of Communities, João Rui Almeida during Monday’s speech. Former Azorean president João Bosco Mota Amaral also spoke praising the Feast Committee for their work and spirit. Azorean Director of Communities, Alzira Silva, the guest of honor, told the crowd that she is always with them in spirit even when she is not present. But perhaps the loudest cheers followed Dr. Manuel Da Silva, who challenged the crowd to answer who the first Azorean ever in Fall River? “Miguel Corte Real,’ --responded many familiar with Da Silva’s research. Then Da Silva urged them to push for the new Brightman Street Bridge to be renamed after Miguel Corte Real, the legendary explorer who many believe engraved his Coat of Arms on Dighton Rock, in the shallows of the Taunton River. |
FALL RIVER - As Grandes Festas do Divino Espírito Santo da Nova Inglaterra, que atrairam mais de 300 mil pessoas, encerraram na segunda-feira à noite. no White’s of Westport, onde foram proferidos diversos discursos e entregues muitas lembranças. “0 povo é forte quando está unido e um povo unido pode conseguir o que quiser,” afirmou o Secretário de Estado das Comunidades Portuguesas, Dr. Rui Almeida. O Dr. João Mota Amaral também congratulou os responsáveis pelas Grandes Festas pelo trabaiho realizado e pelo espirito religioso A convidada de honra, a Directora Regional das Comunidades do Governo Regional dos Açores, Alzira Silva, afirmou que tem estado aqui e que sempre estará, nos momentos mais felizes e naqueles em que é preciso tomar decisões. O Dr. Manuel L. da Silva, que recebeu talvez a maior salva de palmas, desafiou a assistência a responder quem foi o primeiro açoriano a pisar a terra de Fall River. A resposta foi Miguel Corte Real. Então, o Dr. Silva sugeriu que a nova ponte que vai ligar Fall River a Somerset fosse dado o nome do navegador e explorador Miguel Corte Real. |