The Portuguese Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo this Sunday will have a new addition to the annual procession to honour Jesus Christ. Approximately, 16 university students will take part.

One of the students involved, Jessica Almeida, said using the university students was inspired by a similar practice taken up in the Azores.

"We thought why don't we integrate that into Bermuda," said Miss Almedia who attends the University of St. Francis Xavier in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Hundreds of younger children usually take part, dressed as angels, but participation tends to fall off as kids get older.

"Many of the older kids don't want to be involved," said Miss Almeida. "They don't want to dress up as angels."

So instead they will wear black capes sent by the University of the Azores. The capes are similar to capes worn in graduation ceremonies.

The Bermuda Regiment Band and a Portuguese band will play during the parade.

A statue of Jesus is carried along as part of the proceedings. The students will lay the capes down in front of the statute as a kind of homage.

"The Sunday before the parade, we were blessed by the priest at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Cathedral," said Miss Almeida. "The priest blessed the cape and our studies."

Miss Almeida has taken part since she was a little girl.

"Everyone's parents and grandparents are always proud," she said. "My mother makes the outfits. A lot of kids take part."

Miss Almeida was born in Bermuda, but her parents are originally from Vila Franca, Sao Miguel, Azores.

"This is a very important event in the Portuguese community in Bermuda," she said. "There is another parade in July called the Espirito Santo festival. That is also important."

She said many young people struggle to stay in touch with their heritage.

"I have not found it a challenge to myself to stay in touch with my culture," she said. "My mom is always involved and I am there with her.

"But it is a challenge to find other people to be involved. I don't know what it is. Maybe it is because when kids get older they don't want to do it."

Miss Almeida returns to the Azores every summer to see her family. She hopes to be a lawyer.

The festival starts at St. Theresa's at 13 Elliott Street at 2.30 p.m. It will loop around town and back to the church.