The Holy Ghost Society is common in Portuguese settlements throughout the world. Every year members commemorate the 16th century feeding of the famine stricken Portuguese people by Queen Isabella. The religious Queen prayed to the Holy Ghost for relief from floods. The rains stopped, the waters receded, but the land was barren. Queen Isabella then sold her crown jewels to buy food and feed her people.

Each year the members of the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society bears a symbolic crown to St. Mary Church recalling the generous act of the Queen and offering prayer to the Holy Ghost, followed by the Feeding of The Masses at the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society Club. Here in Stonington the PHGS Club honors that tradition on Labor Day weekend.

The PHGS Foundation provides a gift-in-kind with Foundation members volunteering for this event in various capacities including, but not limited to, hall and courtyard setup, cooking, serving and cleanup.