The Story of Queen Isabel's rise to Sainthood

Feastday: July 4
Patron of the Third Order of St. Francis

Elizabeth (Isabel) was a Spanish princess who was given in marriage to King Denis of Portugal at the age of twelve in the early 12th Century. She was very beautiful, loving and a devout Catholic who attended mass daily. She was a holy wife. Her husband was fond of her at first, but he soon began to cause her great suffering. Though a good ruler, he did not imitate his wife's love of prayer and other virtues.
Queen Isabel's subjects suffered from the effects of a devastating drought followed by a long famine with thousands dying due to disease compounded by wells running dry and scarcity of food. She did all she could for her people during that time. Many artist's renderings show her holding red roses in one hand and a small loaf of bread in the other. This stems from her habit of taking bread from the palace and secretly passing it to the poor and hungry. One day the King found out about it and confronted her. When she opened her apron to reveal the stolen bread, a miracle had occurred. For instead of bread, a bunch of red roses fell to the floor. Her generosity and love for her people had been honored by God.

She arranged masses to be said continuously during a nine-day novena until the day of Pentecost when the people witnessed three ships sail up the harbor and docked in Lisbon. These ships were filled with grain. Their hunger was finally at an end. It also began to rain, after several years of drought. This was considered to be a major miracle.

Her devotion to her people was symbolized by the promise she made to the Holy Spirit that if her people were saved from famine and drought, she would lay her jeweled crown on the altar as a gift to the church.
Not only was she was generous and kind to the poor, Queen Isabel was a successful peacemaker among nations and between members of her own feudingfamily. Because Queen Isabel remained dedicated to attending daily Mass, she found strength to bear her many great crosses.

Replicas of her crown adorned with the dove, the Holy Spirit’s symbol, were made and the saintly queen began her custom of crowning and placing her cape on the poorest girl in the kingdom and poorest male beggar. This custom of crowning, and feeding the community (Soupas), still takes place today in the Azores and among Portuguese communities throughout the U.S., including the IPFES of Tracy. These Holy Ghost Celebrations are called: Festa do Divino Espirito Santo.

Queen Isabel was canonized by Pope Urban the Eighth in 1625.

Marinated Crab Feed 3/5/11 featuring CHICO AVILA

The New Year heralds a whirlwind of functions for the IPFES of Tracy! Tickets are now on sale for our Spring Marinated Crab Dinner. The event is set for Saturday, March 5,2011. The evening kicks off with a no host cocktail hour at 6 pm, dinner at 7 pm, followed by dancing to the music of Chico Avila! Our ticket prices have remained recession proof enabling more of us an affordable evening out. Adults are $35, children 6-12 $15. For more information, call 209 969 4222 or email us at festapres@gmail.com

It's all happening at our amazing venue:
Tracy Ballroom (Portugese Hall)
400 W. 9th Street
Tracy, CA 95376

Matanca do Porco - February 12, 2011

Mark your calendars for our famous Traditional Pork Feast! Old World custom comes to Tracy:
Saturday, February 12, 2011 · 6:00pm - Midnight
IPFES Portuguese Hall
400 W. 9th Street
Tracy, CA

6 pm: No Host Cocktails
7 pm: Dinner
9 pm-12 am: dancing to DJ Fernando Carapinha
Tickets: $20 Adults, $10 Children 6-12
This amazing dinner prepared by the finest Portuguese cooks! You won't want to miss this cultural event. On the menu:
Marinated Pork, Blood Sausage, Linquica, Ribs, Sweet Potatoes, Yams, Pork Rinds, Beans, Salad, and Filhos ( Malasadas) for dessert. Visit our toasting table and drink to the pigs with Anise and Portuguese Brandy, complimented with dried figs. Treat your Valentine to this unique experience!
Email us at festapres@gmail.com for tickets to this unique event~

IPFES Gives Back to the Community

Community service is an important part of our platform this year as Presidents. We'd like to thank IPFES, Our Lady of Fatima and the Tracy Portuguese Band for their contributions to our food drive benefiting Tracy Interfaith Ministries! They were very appreciative of the boxes of food all of you helped provide.
Watch for another Food Drive this Spring!

Mark your Calendars for our Famous Cioppino Dinner

Mmmm! Our Crab Cioppino Dinner is set for Saturday, January 8, 2011. We hope you made it our wonderful Marinated Crab Dinner, but if you didn't, this is another "can't miss" event!
Our Portuguese Hall is home to some of the best chefs in the West. Manuel, Jimmy and Peter are our own Top Chefs when it comes to cooking this spicy seafood dish.
The famous CHICO AVILA will be on tap to entertain the crowd. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for Children 6-12. The fun begins with a no host cocktail hour at 6 pm, dinner at 7 pm and dancing to Chico Avila from 9-Midnight. The lip smacking menu includes: Cioppino, Pasta, Green Salad, Fresh Genoa Bread and Complimentary Wine at your table.
Email us for ticket purchases or more information: festapres@gmail.com or call Joe at: 209 481 2238 or Robert at: 209 321 5025. Also, they can be picked up at our Portuguese Hall Rental Office, but call first at 209 835 5917.

Marinated Crab Dinner: November 13, 2010

The IPFES/Portuguese Hall Marinated Crab Dinners have become legendary in our area.
IPFES Marinated Crab Dinner
Sat., Nov. 13, 2010
6:00: No Host Cocktails. 7:00 pm: Dinner 9-Midnight: Dancing to the Zodiac Band.
$35 Adults, $15 Children 6-12
Includes Marinated Crab, Pasta, Salad, Fresh Genoa Bread

It's a flurry of tempting tastes, savory smells with entertainment following the feast.

Please email us at festapres@gmail.com for the full details!

Macy's SHOP FOR A CAUSE:10/16/10 benefits IPFES!

On Saturday, October 16, 2010, Macy's will host the 5th annual Shop for a Cause will benefit charities nationwide. Since 2006, Shop for a Cause has raised more than $34 million for regional and local charities across the country. This is your opportunity to be part of the excitement and help IPFES.

Here's how the customer benefits:
When you Shop for a Cause on Saturday, October 16, 2010 with your ticket, receive 10 to 20% savings on almost all of their purchases, including regular, sale and clearance merchandise*, and 25%* off a single purchase. And, customers will be eligible to win a $500 gift card. The entry form is attached to the ticket.
For our Tracy area friends, this is the perfect opportunity to visit our new Macy's!
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Please email us at festapres@gmail.com for tickets and more information!