OLM FESTA SLIDE SHOWS SET TO OLM MUSIC
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The 2008 Program of Events (click here):
THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF MIRACLES
Gustine, California
Welcome to my page! I hope you enjoy it.
Please stay awhile and sign my guestbook.
You can click on the links at the bottom
for more information on the
Our Lady of Miracles Festa.
The next festa dates are
September 12, 13, 14, & 15, 2008
(Friday-Monday).
The novenas start nine days before
the Festa on September 5, 2008.
CHURCH BECOMES A SHRINE
Steeped in tradition, the OLM Celebration
A long-standing celebration of faith, one of the oldest
welcomes thousands
in the United States, continues every year in September
when Our Lady of Miracles hosts its annual Festa.
Thousands of visitors fill the little town of Gustine in a
celebration that was brought here from the little island
of Terceira in the Azores Islands. It has been a part of
Gustine and the lives of Portuguese people here
for over 60 years. Two common bonds are shared by
those who travel to Gustine for the event. One is
a love of the Portuguese heritage and customs they
share; the second is a deep faith in
Our Lady of Miracles. Many of the traditions
of the OLM Celebration reflect both aspects of
culture and faith.
historically originated at the Festa
such as the queens and sopas are
explained by Olivia Amaral:
"How the tradition started for a Festa in the
old days was that St. Isabel's husband, King
Deniz, and their son were at war against each
other. St. Isabel was very devoted to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. During the war, her people
were starving and she would smuggle bread in
her cloak to give to them against her husband's
wishes. One day, her husband, the King, caught
her and asked what was in her cloak and she said
it was roses. He demanded to see them and when
she open her cloak, the bread had turned into a
bouquet of roses. This was a miracle by God.
That is why we always see her statue with the
roses falling from her cloak.
She is always dressed in pink robes.
wear her crown until her husband and son made peace.
On that day, she would invite all the royalty
from surrounding areas to join in with her in a
procession to their Church for her to receive
her crown once again. She then put on a banquet
for everyone, royalty and poor alike. This is
where the tradition of having queens from
surrounding area's fits in and the simple
meal of soup, bread and meat."
surrounded by burning candles
during the Our Lady of Miracles
Novena Mass celebrating Mary's birthday
9/08/03
(photo courtesy of Bill Bell)
as Bishop John Steinbock of Fresno Diocese looks on
Our Prayer to Pope Benedict XVI:
May the Lord bless you and guide you as you
begin your Papacy. We have the utmost faith
that our Cardinals, along with the help of
the Holy Spirit, have made the right decision
for our Church and that you will do your best
to carry on the message that our
Beloved Pope John Paul II started.
Please continue the outreach to the youth
of the world, as they are the Church's
most precious resource. They are the ones
who will perpetuate Catholicism.
God bless you!
View My Guestbook
The songs you will hear on this site are the original hymns that were brought from Terceira for the Festa. The songs were originally the only songs sung at the Our Lady of Miracles Portuguese Festa in Gustine, CA. As time went by, other Portuguese hymns were also sung at the Festa to give more variety. It was then that I decided to record the music of Our Lady of Miracles Festa so that the original hymns would never be forgotten. The original music was never before recorded even though it was used in the "Old Country" of Serreta, Terceira, Azores Islands, Portugal, and then brought to the United States over 60 years ago. Only a few of the orignal hymns are played at the Festa each year so many of the younger participants have never heard all of the orignal music. I have appealed to the OLM Society to keep the music alive by playing every hymn at the 9 day Novena each year. The music is sometimes lively and sometimes sad or melancholy and incorporates many instruments like piano, guitar, strings, trumpet, accordian, marimbas, trombone, harmonica, and clarinet. The music will surely strike the heartstrings of all who listen! I hope they will never be forgotten!
North America, South America, Europe, China,
and Scandinavia.
1.Viva Jesus 2.Hymeno de Nossa Senhora Fatima
3.Hozana 4.O Mai de Turnura
5.E Suave d Mavioso 6.Hino da Paz
7.A Deus Maria 8.A Treze de Maio
9.Virgem dos Milagres (theme for OLM Festa)
Lyrics are included in the CD
370 Linden Avenue
Gustine, CA 95322
(209)854-6692
GPS Hall
500 3rd Avenue
Gustine, CA 95322
(209)854-1830
Bella Vista Park
Santa Fe Grade Road
Newman, CA 35360
(209)862-0404
Bella Vista Park activities:
For people with motor homes that want
to go to the park early, the outside
gate opens at 8 a.m.
The ticket booth for entance into the
arena opens at 1 p.m.(no exceptions)
The activities are:
Portuguese Food/Fish, Portuguese Music
Dancing and Chamaritas
For other questions please contact:
Walter (854-3712) or Frank (854-3448)
Please Email me for a complimentary
Commemorative Program of the
2007 Our Lady of Miracles Celebration
or for CD or Tape ordering information
or you can buy by Emailing or Writing:
Kathryn Maffei
P O Box 485
Gustine, CA 95322
Monsignor Myron Cotta
officiate the 2003
Our Lady of Miracles Festa
Monsignor Myron Cotta's CD,
"The Rosary & Songs of Praise"
1.A Treze de Maio 2.Our Lady of Miracles Theme
3.Viva Jesus 4.Mae dos Jovens 5.O Perdao
6.Our Lady of Miracles (Davis) 7.Holy Spirit
8.When You Believe in Miracles 9.Hosea
10.Open My Eyes 11.Viva Jesus (duet)
12.Our Lady of Miracles (Davis, Portuguese)
All music on CD is played by Kathryn Maffei
LINKS
PLEASE ADD BOOKMARK
COME BACK AND SEE ME SOMETIME!
PLEASE HAVE A NICE DAY!!!
"Hymn of Our Lady of Fatima"
To My Father, Mathew M. Castro
(his favorite OLM song and
twice President of OLM Festa)
This song is played in the
Grand Parade on Sunday
This version is played by
Kathryn Castro Maffei
(from The Collection of OLM Hymns CD)