A time of preparation and prayer allowed FES Oakdale to host its annual Festa do Espirito Santo (the Holy Spirit’s festivities) on July 27 and 28, at the FES Hall on North Lee Avenue.
The period of preparing food and praying of the Rosary from July 23 to 26 at the FES Hall led into the celebration weekend of religious and cultural importance.
The weekend started with a Bodo de Leite, an animal parade in which dozens of cows, bulls, and goats were marched from the FES Hall to Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Oakdale. The livestock were pulling loud, squeaking carts that held farm equipment, grain, and grapes, representing their use throughout the Portuguese culture. Supposedly, the louder the cart, the better because a loud cart would ensure that people knew that the parade was coming, and this aspect is a significant tradition carried out in Portuguese culture.
After the Bodo de Leite traveled to Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Father Mathew O’Donnel blessed the animals and anointed them with holy water. Father O’Donnel said that this parade emphasizes “the importance of animals in God’s creation” through the Bible, from “Noah’s Ark,” “Jonah and the Whale,” and “Elijah and Ravens.” The Bodo de Leite brings together farmers and families to celebrate the greatness and glory of God through creation of animals and highlights how they are a blessing to us.
Once the parade settled at Saint Mary’s, participants got together and celebrated with traditional song and dance and then returned to the FES Hall to partake in a free lunch.
Lesley John, Hall Agent of the FES Hall, said, “It is open to the public, and the food is completely free. The purpose of the free meals is to open the doors to the hungry and needy and offer a free meal just as St. Isabel did.”
St. Isabel is a cultural cornerstone behind the Festa do Espirito Santo and was the Queen of Portugal in the 1200s during drought, starvation, and famine.
“Her husband (St. Isabel’s), King Diniz, did not care about their starving subjects and forbade her from helping them in any way,” John went on to explain. “Despite King Diniz’s objections, she ultimately decided to feed her subjects with food that she stole from the palace. Eventually, King Diniz became suspicious and confronted her outside of the palace walls. When he confronted her, she had a loaf of bread hidden beneath her robe and when he ordered her to open her robes and show him what she had hidden under them a bunch of red roses fell to the floor.”
The miracle of turning the bread into roses in St. Isabel’s story is said to have been performed by the Holy Spirit, which is why the gathering is called Festa do Espirito Santo (the Holy Spirit’s festivities). To commemorate the selfless acts of St. Isabel, queens are crowned during Festa do Espirito Santo so that young women may try to emulate her actions.
Senior Queen Breanna Avila, Junior Queen Presley Scoto, and Little Queen Cora Bonds were presented in the evening at the FES Hall on July 27 and were crowned at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church on the morning of July 28. When the queens were presented, the President of FES Oakdale, Manuel Machado, thanked the community for making the Festa do Espirito Santo and FES Oakdale possible.
“We are lucky to have such a great community,” Machado said.
FES Oakdale relies heavily on donations, fundraisers, and renting out the FES Hall to operate. Through these donations, John said that at every Festa do Espirito Santo, “approximately 2,500 people are served” lunch and dinner.
Since its beginning in 1947, FES Oakdale has gained nearly 300 dedicated members and volunteers, making this event and many others possible.
The following day, July 28, another parade that included queens and bands from all over California marched from the FES Hall to Saint Mary’s to crown the queens at Mass. Queens from Elk Grove, Tracy, San Jose, Monterey, Ripon, Manteca, Atwater, and Santa Clara supported and celebrated with FES Oakdale. When the parade arrived at the church, the three queens were accompanied by their side maids and crowned with the Holy Spirit Crown. Senior Queen Breanna Avila’s side maids were Haley Drumond and Sandra Dasilva; Junior Queen Presley Scoto’s side maids were Lexi Farinha and Sofia Coelho; Little Queen Cora Bonds’ side maids were Remi Furtado and Swayze Enes. After Father O’Donnel crowned the queens, FES Oakdale hosted another lunch and dinner and presented the queens, then enjoyed the rest of the evening with celebration and dance.
To donate to the local organization or to inquire about renting out the FES Hall at 190 N. Lee, email fesoakdale@gmail.com, and to stay updated on FES Oakdale events, follow Oakdale FES on Facebook.
