Annual posada prepares the way for the birth of Christ

By Enedelia J. Obregón | Senior Correspondent

Sometimes it’s easy to forget the reason for the season. That was especially true this past year as the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to celebrate the birth of Christ in the usual way.
The diocesan Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, however, continued its traditional posada during Advent to honor their Catholic faith and their Latin American heritage.
The posada commemorates the narrative that the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were turned away from inns in Bethlehem, where they went to be counted in the census. While there, she gave birth to the Christ Child in a stable and laid him in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Posadas, which means inns or lodgings in Spanish, started in Mexico as a way for priests from Spain –– who began arriving in 1524 –– to teach the indigenous people about Christmas. Through the years, the tradition spread to other parts of Latin America and they are popular in U.S. communities with large Latino populations.
Through the centuries, the tradition of the posada moved from church to neighborhoods. Families re-enact the posadas from Dec. 16 to 24, taking turns as the “inn” that allows Mary and Joseph to come in. That also means hosting a party.
Pastoral Juvenil, which is open to youth ages 18 to 35, calls its posada “Mega Posada” because it is put on by all the parishes that have Pastoral Juvenil ministries.
According to Yazmín Maní, diocesan coordinator of Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, the Mega Posada was first held about 15 years ago, with none in 2017 and 2018. They are held in different parishes in the diocese.
Nohely Rivera, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Austin who helped coordinate last month’s Mega Posada, said the event is important because many members of the ministry grew up in the U.S. and some of the traditions have been lost.
“By doing this, we are able to teach them and experience the traditions of our culture,” she said. “This helps us to welcome Jesus.”
Rivera, a recent engineering graduate from the University of Texas in Austin, said it is important to keep the faith and cultural traditions alive.
“This is unique to our culture,” she said. “That’s why we continue doing it.”
Because members are familiar with the posadas, rehearsals were not necessary and avoided this past year. Any lyrics or information that needed to be exchanged was sent through an app and planning meetings were held via Zoom. Volunteers from six Pastoral Juvenil parish ministries were responsible for the program.
The 2020 Mega Posada was held at Santa Cruz Parish in Buda. The event opened with musical praise and worship. Roberto Feliciano and Nayeli Ruiz, members of Jóvenes Para Cristo at St. Louis Parish in Austin led the rosary.
This year’s posada was somewhat abbreviated. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and inclement weather, the peregrinos –– or pilgrims –– made only two stops around the parish grounds before returning to the parish hall.
This year Mary was portrayed by Rosa Sifuentes, Joseph was portrayed by Joel Salinas, and accompanying them was Daniela González, who portrayed the donkey Mary rode on their journey to Bethlehem. A group of masked people sang the verses in which Mary and Joseph ask for lodging: “En el nombre del cielo, Os pido posada. Pues no puede andar mi esposa amada.”
Another group sang the refrain that there is no room at the inn: “Aquí no es mesón. Sigan adelante. Que no puedo abrir, no sea algún tunante.”
At the predetermined spot where Mary and Joseph can go in, they sang: “Mi esposa as María, es reina del cielo. Y madre va a ser Del Divino Verbo.”
Those inside replied: “¿Eres tú, José? ¿Tu esposa es María? Entren peregrinos, no los conocía.”
As they entered, they sang: “Dios pague señores vuestra caridad. Y os colme el cielo de felicidad.”
Those inside replied: “Dichosa la casa que alberga este día a la Virgen pura, la hermosa María.”
After the posada, Sandra Castillo Pimentel, from Juventud Misionera at Cristo Rey Parish in Austin, explained how Spanish priests used piñatas to evangelize the native people of Mexico. Each point on the piñata represents one of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.
“What do you do with a piñata?” she asked. “You smash it. You smash the sins that keep you away from God.”
The fruit and sweets that fall out after smashing a piñata represent the sweetness of being reunited with God.
Father Rito Dávila, associate pastor at Santa Cruz Parish and chaplain of Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, told those gathered that the event was important because it “brings faith to the youth and the people. It also brings joy.”
“The church has been sad because of the pandemic,” he said. “We need to work on bringing joy.”