He’s only been here a little more than a year, and already, the Rev. Vander S. Martins, pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Church, has made significant strides.

It’s hard to imagine that St. Elizabeth Church parishioners dating back more than 100 years have never had the opportunity to celebrate its patron saint in a holy, commemorative fashion. But, recently, Father Martins, a close friend of his predecessor, the late Rev. Marinaldo A. Batista, decided that it would be in the best interest of everyone if current parishioners and friends had the opportunity to finally pay tribute to St. Elizabeth herself.

As the story goes, St. Elizabeth of Portugal was born in 1271 and died on July 4, 1336. She was canonized in 1625 and her feast day is July 4. She was the wife of King Dinis of Portugal. She was named for her great-aunt St. Elizabeth of Hungary and received a strict and pious education. In 1282 she was married to Dinis, a good ruler but an unfaithful husband. Despite the corrupt court life, Elizabeth maintained her devout habits, helped the sick and the poor, and founded charitable establishments. She also helped settle disputes among other royal relatives. After Dinis died in 1325, she lived at Coimbra, Portugal, near a Poor Clare convent that she had founded, and she devoted herself to people in need.

“According our records,” said Father Martins, “the first Mass and dedication of St. Elizabeth’s Church occurred on Sept. 15, 1914, but our patron saint has never had a day in her honor here that we know of. This year, on Sunday, Sept. 17, we will have our first feast day in St. Elizabeth’s honor, with activities and religious observance from Sept. 8 to 17.”

The schedule will include the St. Elizabeth Mother of the Poor Festive Portuguese Mass at 9 a.m. and Festive English Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 17, followed by a procession with special participation by the St. Elizabeth Band. There will also be a social get-together in the Church Auditorium featuring lunch, sweets and soft drinks.

The actual celebration will commence on Friday, Sept. 8 with the beginning of the novena with the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Mass at 7 p.m. Portuguese and American food will be featured on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. with the rosary at 4:30 p.m. and Mass at 5 p.m. There will be games for the children from 8:30 to 12:00.

Following Masses on Sunday morning, Sept. 10, the Rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m., and a Mass for the elderly and the sick with the sacrament of anointing will take place, followed by tea which will be served in the auditorium.

Masses and the praying of the Rosary will also take place the remainder of the week, including Portuguese and American food from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, the last day of the novena.

Primarily known for its long-standing United Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit and Holy Trinity Feast, and Santo Christo Feast, which dates back decades, St. Elizabeth Church will now honor its patron saint with the same grace and solemnity, and Father Martins couldn’t be more delighted.

Ironically, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal’s feast day is the Fourth of July, which according to Father Martins, would not have been possible to celebrate here in Bristol because of the “activities going on here in Bristol.”

“I thought having it in September would be an appropriate time of year for our parishioners to honor St. Elizabeth,” he explained. “We have a committee in place and everyone is excited about this great event.”