Bishop Earl Fernandes participated in the traditional observance of Las Posadas leading up to Christmas as the principal celebrant for a Mass on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Columbus St. Agnes Church.
Las Posadas, commemorated between Dec. 16 and 24, is popular in Latin American culture and in U.S. parishes with large Latino congregations. A novena is often part of Las Posadas.
After the Saturday evening Mass at St. Agnes, the bishop participated in a procession at the parish that reenacted the journey that Joseph and Mary made to Bethlehem, knocking on doors while trying to find a place to stay before giving birth to the baby Jesus. Unable to find lodging, the Holy Family was forced to settle for a stable, where the Christ Child was born.
Father Juan Fernando Bonilla, the pastor at St. Agnes and Columbus St. Mary Magdalene churches, celebrated Mass with the bishop and also joined the procession that included songs and prayers before ending with food, music and games. Joining the two parishes for Las Posadas were parishioners from Columbus St. Stephen the Martyr Church.
“We’re trying to come together to celebrate as a community,” Father Bonilla said. “We invited the bishop and other communities to join us as a big community – one family in the name of Jesus as a Catholic church.”
Among the other parishes in the dioceses where Las Posadas took place were Columbus St. Cecilia, Columbus-Powell St. Peter St. Joan of Arc, Dover St. Joseph and London St. Patrick.