Power of the Spirit Project Update
St. John the Baptist in Milpitas
September 27, 2011
St. John the Baptist is one of many churches that constitute the story of the Portuguese Churches of the East Bay. They tell the story of the large population of Portuguese who made the East Bay the center of the Portuguese community from the 1880′s through the 1950′s. They include St. Joseph’s of Oakland, Mary Help of Christians in Oakland, Holy Spirit in Fremont, All Saints in Hayward, St. Leanders in San Leandro, and St. John the Baptist in Milpitas.
Power of the Spirit Project Update
Front row: left to right: Matrio B. Cordeiro, Manuel V. Alvernaz, Manuel P. Costa, José A. Ferreira, José Carlos Simplicio, João H. Lima, António P. Rodrigues and Ivo D. Rocha. Back row: Eugénio A. Alves, Albano G. Oliveira, Valdemiro M. Fagundes, Joaquim Esteves, Virgilio A. Oliveira, Carlos B. Macedo, José P. Lima, and the assistant at Sacred Heart (not identified)
August 22, 2011
Joe Machado, the leader of the “Power of the Spirit” project and his team of collaborators continue to make good progress towards publication of the book. The in-depth research work that it requires is fairly extensive and the historic records are not readily available, nevertheless the team is enthusiastic and working hard towards publication in 2012.
The photo at right was taken in 1969 at a meeting of California’s Portuguese clergy at Sacred Heart Church in Turlock.
Power of the Spirit Project Update
St. Joseph's Church in Oakland
July 30, 2011
Ferreira Moreno, a well known columnist and history investigator, whose columns appear regularly in the Portuguese press in the US and Portugal, is leading the research on the biographies of the many Portuguese priests who served the community in California since the late 1800’s.
In a chapter to be titled “Pastores do Espirito” in the upcoming book Power of the Spirit, a history of all the Portuguese churches in California, Ferreira Moreno will bring to light the biographies of these outstanding men, most of them born in the Azores, and who left their homeland to come and serve the spiritual needs of the Portuguese speaking communities in California, including the construction of many of our churches.
If you have, or know someone who has any documentation, specially photos, of the many Portuguese priests serving in California before WWII, please contact us. Help us pay the proper homage to these outstanding individuals who sacrificed their lives at the service of our community.
Power of the Spirit
Stain glass window at Five Wounds Portuguese National Church - San Jose
Our team has an exciting new book underway. The new addition to our Research Collection, will be titled Power of the Spirit.
A team of volunteers lead by Joe Machado, has been researching for over one year now, churches in California, either built by Portuguese, or where Portuguese immigrants played a major role in their development into productive parishes and community gathering centers.
The project focus has been two fold: a) The church buildings, their history and how they came into existence; b) The human stories, the drama, the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of the Portuguese communities in early California.
Holy Ghost celebration at Five Wounds, Portuguese National Church - San Jose, California
As with the other books within our Research Collection, Power of the Spirit will be published in Deluxe Edition, and promises to be an intriguing capture of the spiritual fortitude of the Portuguese diaspora in early California.
Power of the Spirit, will be a very limited edition, expected to be available to the public in late 2011 or early 2012. To reserve your book for yourself, family or friends (ideal Christmas gift), please submit the form below.
At this time, the book is estimated to be priced at $45.00, including shipping and handling.
Be sure to follow our blog for updates on the exact publication date of this important book.