August 29, 2025

Annual Festa underway in Ludlow

REGIONAL
By Michael Pedro

Thousands took part in the rosary procession at Festa, Sept. 1, 2024 in Ludlow at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. (IObserve file photo)

LUDLOW – Thousands are flocking to Ludlow for the annual Fest held on the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. The festival, which celebrates Portuguese culture and Catholic faith began on Thursday, Aug. 28 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

 “Communities coming together, and with everything going on in the world, it’s just a nice place of reflection,” said Festa president Scott Gomes-Ganhao.

“It’s an opportunity to enjoy what this country is and what a lot of people did when they immigrated here- to enjoy something different, to have a little bit of their own culture present in their daily lives,” he said.

The five-day festival includes traditional Portuguese food, rides, and entertainment. The pinnacle of the weekend is the outdoor Mass held on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the outdoor chapel on the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Following Mass, there will be a procession through the neighborhood near the church on Winsor Street. Thousands typically attend and travel from all over the Northeast to attend.

David Costa, the senior vice president of Festa said it’s “an event that reminds me yearly of what our culture and faith is all about.” He also noted that “It’s very peaceful and recharges the batteries, faith-wise, for another year.”

Volunteers from the parish carry a statue of Our Lady of Fatima to lead the procession as the rosary is prayed in both English and Portuguese.

From May to October 1917, the Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd childen in Fatima, Portugal: Lucia dos Santos, 10 and her two cousins, Jacinta, 7, and Francisco Marto, 9. The Blessed Mother told the children to pray the rosary daily for peace and to offer up their suffering for the conversion of souls. At the time of the apparitions, the flu ravaged Europe and Portugal had entered World War I on the side of the Allies.

In 2017, Pope Francis canonized Jacinta and Francisco Marto. Both children died from the flue. In 2017, Carmelite Sister Lucia dos Santos was declared venerable by the Church, further advancing her cause of sainthood.

“If you’ve never been, then you’ve never gotten to experience the miracle of Festa,” said Gomes-Ganhoa. “It truly brings the Portuguese culture, community, all aspects of the religious celebration, the outdoor Mass and candlelight procession, all together in one massive event that not only celebrates Ludlow, it celebrates the Portuguese heritage in the United States,” he said.

More information about the weekend’s events can be found at on facebook.com/OLOFFesta