Every December, besides the Our Lady of
Guadalupe celebration, the Milwaukee Voces de la Frontera New Sanctuary
Movement organizes or participates in a “Posada” liturgy to commemorate the
biblical story of Mary and Joseph traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem where
Jesus would be born. The theme is the
sacredness of the family. This year’s
event was a cooperative program sponsored by Voces – Sanctuary, Gesu Catholic
Church, Ascension Lutheran Church, MICAH (Milwaukee Interfaith Congregations
Allied for Hope) and Nativity Jesuit Middle School. Such cooperation is a result of Vatican II.
What
is the difference in solemnity between the “Posada” and Our Lady of Guadalupe
celebrations? Guadalupe Romero and Eva Gomez,
both Mexicans, say that the Guadalupe celebration is done with intense emotion,
and it is prayerful. The “Posada” is prayerful
but more festive.
The
re-enactment of the journey to Bethlehem was a four block trip from Ascension
Church to the Nativity Jesuit Middle School with four stops with Mary and
Joseph asking for “Posada” – a place of refuge where the baby would be born. The
bible story became real.
The
journey began at Ascension Lutheran Church.
All gathered in the Sanctuary for an introduction and an explanation of
the “Posada” liturgy. It was raining and cold so two of the four stops of the procession
would be in the Ascension Church building. From
the pulpit in the Sanctuary the narrator explained:
“The Posada is a Mexican tradition to
commemorate the journey that Joseph and his wife Mary had to make to find a
place for her to give birth. The road
was very long, it took many days. They
are the true migrants who looked for the best for their child Jesus. The story of Mary and Joseph is the story of
all humanity: always seeking a better life.
It is the story of all who live in the United States. It is the story of Francisco and Gabriela
from Guatemala. It is the story of Cecilia
who comes from Columbia. It is the story of Jackie’s family who are from Mexico
and Ireland. It is the story of many
Mexicans who have crossed the border looking for a better life. Tonight we live our story as in the story of
Mary, Joseph and Jesus.”
The first experience on the journey
was at the border. The dramatic liturgy began with singing and
dialogue in Spanish and English. Mary, Joseph and the group with them were
confronted by a border patrol agent. The
program prepared by Francisco Martorell of MICAH and Nikki Meinrose of
Sanctuary states:
We will now start the journey with Joseph and Mary. Upon leaving
their home and town, relatives and friends fill them with well wishes. It is
very difficult to be separated from loved ones.
.
Narrator: After a journey full of problems,
Joseph and Mary finally arrive at the border.
Joseph: Officials, please, see that we have left our land and our
family members, our animals and the small corn crop we had. We have taken great
risks to come to this country for the well-being of our children. Won’t you let
us through?
Officials: Are you crazy? You don’t have any
documents. We don’t want you here, get away.
Joseph: Don’t worry, Mary. I know you can get through this. Let’s
trust in God.
The Angel, who was leading the
procession, slipped by the Guard. “Let him
go,” the border guard said, “we need someone to pick the strawberries.”
The Second Experience: Work – The Palermo Pizza Factory
Narrator: Migrants often come to this country with
just one purpose: to improve their
lives, to work in any way to maintain their families and send money back to the
grandparents.
Joseph: My job is very
hard. I work in a factory. They don’t give us breaks and they treat us poorly. If we are injured, they don’t help us. If we miss a few days for being sick, they fire
us. But I have no other option- jobs are hard to get. Some of my co-workers and
I are starting the process of forming a union to be our voice and ask for
better work conditions. Soon there will be a vote to decide if the majority are
in favor of forming the union.
Employer: I cannot allow them to form a union in my factory. They’re
going to demand high salaries and conditions that I don’t want to provide. I
want everything to stay how it is. I
will do everything possible to prevent that vote!
Mary: Keep your
spirits up, Joseph. Once I give birth I will also look for work and you can
look for something different. God
will give us
strength.
The Congregation then processed with lighted
candels three blocks, in the rain, to
the Nativity Jesuit Middle School. Ninty-two
year old Father Bill Brennan, S.J. also walked.
Father Brennan was recently disciplined by the Roman Catholic Church for
concelebrating a Mass with a woman priest.
Third
Experience – at the school: Lodging -housing discrimination.
Narrator: The migrant clashes with the
diversity of cultures and customs and often is discriminated against. This
almost always happens when they look for a house or apartment.
Joseph: Mary, let’s see if they will rent
us a room. (Joseph
knocks on door)
Owner: How can I help you? Who are you looking for?
Mary: We are looking for
a place to stay. Look, I am very close to giving birth and I need a roof over
my head where I can do so.
Owner: Where are you from? Are you Mexicans? I’ve
heard that Mexicans are dirty and fighters. You better go look for a house
somewhere else.
Joseph: Ma’am, my wife is
a good woman, loving and hard-working. Sorry to bother you.
Narrator: There’s no place for you here. We
don’t know you.
Fourth Experience: The stable:
Narrator: Mary and Joseph
are very tired. They are looking for any little spot to settle, where their
baby can be born.
Joseph: (Joseph
knocks at the door). Good evening. I am Joseph and this is my wife, Mary. We
are traveling migrants. We don’t have any money. We don’t know the language.
But we have the dream of creating a healthy, strong family that will do good
for others.
Mary: I am Mary, a
migrant as well. We have walked a lot looking for the best for our child who
will soon be born. I have the intuition that this child will do great good and
I am willing to give him all of my love and attention so that he will be strong
and able to fulfill his mission. Hopefully Joseph will find a good job. I will
also get work and supporting each other we will get through this. I am about to give birth. Would you allow us in just
for the night so that I can give birth to my baby? I know that my child will do
great good.
Owner: I just have a stable. You will at
least feel a little warmth alongside my animals. Do you want to stay there?
Joseph and Mary: Yes, thank you very much.
Owner: OK then, come in.
Narrator: Although migrants face obstacles, discrimination, and hardship,
there are many people in the United States who care deeply about their struggle
and are waiting with open arms to welcome them and share life together. Good
migrants, you are welcome.
Everyone- in Spanish: Buenos migrantes, sean
bienvenidos.
Let the party begin. Over two-hundred celebrants participated including
kids with lots of energy. We started
with supper and the musicians played and sang traditional Christmas music. There were plenty of tamales, prepared by the
Palermo strikers, tacos and champorrado provided by Nativity Jesuit School
parents.
Before the piñatas were lowered for the kids, we received a sober reminder
from the principal of Nativity School.
He noted that although we were celebrating the festival of hope, it was
a sad day for all of us because of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents in
Newtown, Connecticut. He prayed for the
children and the survivors. How do we
continue? He cited the Prophet Micah. “Seek
Justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 8:3)
