The Regional Director for Communities considered the cult of the Holy Spirit as a "genuine symbol of the identity of the Azorean people," stressing that the Government of the Azores has recently launched the Holy Spirit Festivals Route - Azores/Communities with the aim of disseminating this religious and cultural manifestation that maintains the ties emigrant communities and the archipelago.

"This Route is intended to identify all Holy Spirit festivities celebrated in the Azores and in the Azorean diaspora communities in order to promote and disseminate, particularly among youngsters, one of the main cultural pillars of their ancestors as well as to ensure the preservation of this ancestral tradition that is celebrated by thousands of Azoreans," stated Paulo Teves.

Speaking at the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Holy Spirit Brotherhood of East San Jose in California, the Regional Director noted that "this project will be a further contribution to the dissemination of Azorean culture, especially the religious and popular traditions, as well as to the promotion of Portugal in its Atlantic dimension."

In his speech delivered at the ceremony, which was also attended by the General Council of Portugal in San Francisco, political authorities and representatives of various local institutions, Paulo Teves recalled the cult of the Holy Spirit "as a highly significant contribution to the promotion of cohesion of Azorean emigrant communities in California."

For the Regional Director for Communities, this religious and cultural manifestation that has crossed borders with emigration, is still alive in all societies where the values of 'Azoreanity' are visible, being an important "bridge that unites the Azorean people."

"In the ongoing process of globalisation, often impersonal, the dissemination of distinctive values of the different peoples that make up a community is particularly relevant insofar as it contributes to the preservation of the different cultures, being a living testimony of an identity heritage of the community spaces they share," defended the government official.

The Holy Spirit Festivals Route - Azores/Communities, an initiative is an initiative developed by the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorates for Communities, Culture and Tourism. This project will provide historical information about each festivity with photographs and videos depicting its organisation and evolution over the years as well as the respective date of celebration.

"This is undoubtedly an important contribution to the knowledge of the history of the Azores and the Azorean people. We believe this is a fair tribute to all those who have kept this tradition alive for centuries either in the Region or in the diaspora communities, such as the case of the Holy Spirit Brotherhood of East San Jose," stressed Paulo Teves. According to him, "the dissemination of our rich cultural heritage will make the Azores and their people known to the world, not only the Azoreans residing in the archipelago, but also those who are living in the diaspora communities."

Founded in 1914 by Monsignor Augusto Ribeiro, a native of Cedros, Faial Island, the Holy Spirit Brotherhood of East San Jose has continuously celebrated the traditional Holy Spirit festivities that have been brought by Azorean pioneers. This tradition remains as one of the most important Azorean identity symbols and a meeting for community celebrations.