By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson – Lifelong Hudson resident Kevin Luz Santos was joined by his family when he received the Portuguese Heritage Award at the 33rd annual Heritage Day of Portugal ceremony June 6 at the Massachusetts Statehouse. The celebration is hosted by the Portuguese-American Legislative Caucus. He was nominated by state Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Stow.
A first generation Portuguese-American, he’s the oldest son of Antonio Cabral and Maria Loura Luz Santos, immigrants to Hudson from Santa Maria, Azores. Santos credits his parents for teaching the importance of a strong work ethic to him and his brothers Nelson and Steven.
“The most valuable lesson learned from my parents is the need to work hard,” he said.
“It was instilled in them growing up as farmers. As immigrants coming into this country, they had to work for everything they have.”
The earliest memory of growing up for Santos is the annual feasts of the Hudson Portuguese Club (HPC). He looked forward to the Holy Ghost feasts of Imperio Mariense and Micaelense as well as Our Lady of Fatima, the HPC’s patron saint.
“As a young child, I remember the reunion-type atmosphere of the feasts,” he recalled. “It wasn’t only people from Hudson attending; it was also people visiting from the old country. You’d see second and third cousins that you might not see even around the holiday season, but everyone would come out for the feasts.”
In 2007, Santos began volunteering for HPC fundraisers. The following year, his younger brother Nelson persuaded him to become a club member.
“Nelson came home from college to visit and we had a family dinner,” Santos relayed. “He told me and my brother, ‘It’s embarrassing that you guys have college educations, have succeeded, and aren’t club members.’ He shamed us into becoming members – this is my kid brother!”
Soon after becoming a HPC member in 2008, Santos began serving on its board of directors in various capacities including member-at-large, president, and currently interim acting president. He also served as Oversight Committee chair.
“It’s rewarding for me seeing how happy the folks of the older generation are when someone tries to keep the traditions alive,” he said. “Also, when I see young children involved in the Portuguese School or the folklore dance group. They’re so young – in some cases third generation – and they want to be connected to their cultural heritage.”
Cultural traditions are particularly evident this year, which marks the 100th anniversary of apparitions reported to have appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal, from May to October 1917. This year throughout May, the HPC’s chapel was open each evening for believers to pray the rosary. On May 13, an evening candlelight vigil and outdoor procession with a Fatima statue was scheduled, then relocated inside the gym due to inclement weather.
“About 150 to 200 people attended,” Santos noted. “It was very touching to see so many people.”
That evening also included a dinner to fundraise for the HPC’s traditional Fatima feast, scheduled this year for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17. As usual, a candlelight procession with the Fatima statue is planned around the club during the feast’s conclusion.
“We’re hoping for a bigger turnout, given the 100 years since the original apparition,” Santos said. “We have a phenomenal committee for the feast led by former president Lurdes Melo. My favorite piece of the entire feast is the closing ceremony. You see a lot of different emotions.”
Now an active member for a decade, Santos views the HPC differently as a first generation Portuguese-American.
“I don’t call the HPC an organization anymore; I feel that the HPC is more of a local institution,” he said. “With any immigrant population, the first generation tends to want to become more Americanized. Up until becoming a HPC member, I wanted to be more American than Portuguese-American. Then as time goes on, the traditions that you grew up with become more important. You see the second and third generations of Portuguese-Americans truly want to bring that back. It will be interesting to see how the institution evolves as the next generation picks up the mantle and leads it forward.”