Last year, when the Rev. Vander S. Martins, pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Church, decided it was time that the parish finally pays tribute to the saint for whom the church is named, he was greeted with open arms.

Keeping with the tradition that first began with the Holy Ghost and Santo Cristo Feasts, the Feast of St. Elizabeth was a great success in its first year last September. Thanks to a hard-working committee, this celebration got off to a rousing and most blessed start.

“I think everyone is excited that this church is celebrating the feast of its patron saint in this manner,” said Father Martins. “It was a long time in coming, but last year’s event demonstrated that our parishioners were most pleased with the outcome.”

St. Elizabeth of Portugal was born on January 4, 1271 in Aragon, Spain, and died July 4, 1336 of fever, at the age of 65. She was buried in Coimbra, Portugal, and later Canonized on June 24, 1625, by Pope Urban VIII.

This year, the Feast of St. Elizabeth will be punctuated by an appearance by Archbishop Elect Richard G. Henning, who will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The second annual St. Elizabeth Feast will be held Sept. 6 to Sept. 15, beginning with a Novena for St. Elizabeth on Friday, Sept. 6. The Rosary will be held at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Rosary will held at 4:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 5 p.m. There will also be Portuguese and American food available from 4 to 7 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 8, the 3rd day of Novena will be held, followed by the Rosary at 7 a.m. A Portuguese Mass will be held at 7:30 a.m., followed by Masses in English at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Games for children and food for families will be held at a picnic at the Columban Fathers from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The Feast continues on Monday, Sept. 9, with the 4th day of Novena followed by the Rosary at 6 p.m. and Mass at 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 10 (5th day of Novena), the Rosary will be held at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 11 (6th day of Novena), the Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. and Mass at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, will be the 7th day of Novena with Mass at 7 p.m.

On the 8th day of Novena on Friday, Sept, 13, a special Mass will be held at 3 p.m. for those who are sick and elderly, followed by tea and social hour. During the evening, the Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. followed by Mass at 6:30 p.m.

The Saturday, Sept. 14 schedule will include Rosary at 4:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 5 p.m. Portuguese and American food will be on the menu from 2 to 7 p.m.

This year’s St. Elizabeth’s Feast will come to a climactic conclusion on Sunday, Sept. 15, with the Rosary at 7 a.m., followed by a Mass in Portuguese at 7:30 a.m. and solemn Mass in English by Bishop Henning at 10:30 a.m.

Following the Mass, a procession will be held with special participation with the St. Elizabeth’s Philharmonic Band, and concluding with a Social Hour in the St. Elizabeth’s Auditorium featuring lunch and dessert.

As Father Martins further explained, “This is an important feast. Saint Elizabeth is the one that started the spirit of the devotion of the Holy Ghost. She’s the one that made it great in Portugal.”

In conjunction with St. Elizabeth’s Church’s 110th anniversary this year, Father Martins is honored to have Bishop Henning presiding over the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Sept. 15.

“This will be Bishop Henning’s last time in Bristol at our church,” he said. “It’ll be a great goodbye. The bishop said he would do part of the Mass in Portuguese, which will be great. People are all excited about this Feast.”