2023 Las Posadas celebration at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Thomas
[Episcopal News Service] Members of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a congregation with a large Latino membership, will celebrate Las Posadas next week. The Advent holiday is observed in some Latin American countries and Spain to commemorate Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
The celebration will take place as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts raids throughout the state, leaving immigrant communities in its capital city on alert. Many Latino Christians are avoiding church services for the time being.
“Las Posadas is our way of saying that in this church, in this community, you are not alone and you are not forgotten,” the Rev. Tommy Dillon, rector of St. Margaret’s, told Episcopal News Service. “Mary and Joseph’s story is not just history; it’s happening right now for families who are looking for safety, families looking for housing and people looking for welcome. Every time we open the door to someone who’s in need, we are welcoming the Christ child himself.”
Las Posadas, Spanish for “The Inns,” originated more than 400 years ago in Spain and now is celebrated in at least Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Cuba. It is a novena – a form of worship including special prayers and services lasting nine days – told through improvisational drama from Dec. 16-24, culminating in the Christmas Eve worship service.
The Las Posadas celebration at St. Margaret’s will last one night on Dec. 17 and take place inside the church.
Members of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, celebrate Las Posadas, an Advent holiday observed in some Latin American countries and Spain to commemorate Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in search of a place where Jesus could be born. At St. Margaret’s, as depicted in this photo from 2023, participants celebrate Las Posadas with a traditional Mexican meal of tamales and pozole, a soup made with hominy and meat, usually pork, that’s commonly served during Christmas and other holidays. Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Thomas
Typically, during Las Posadas, community members reenact the nativity story each night, often following a child dressed as an angel, and process singing hymns to a different host family’s house. When they arrive at the house, some stay with the host family members, acting as the innkeeper, and others as Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. Everyone continues singing as the Holy Family is recognized in the crowd, and then everyone gathers inside the home for a celebration with more singing, food, sweets and, in Mexico, the breaking of a piñata.
At St. Margaret’s, participants will celebrate with a traditional Mexican meal of tamales and pozole, a soup made with hominy and meat, usually pork, that’s commonly served during Christmas and other holidays.
“It is a beautiful religious tradition and a wonderful way to prepare for the arrival of our savior. Everyone is full of hope and peace,” Karla Sikaffy duPlantier, The Episcopal Church’s interim missioner for Latino Ministries, told ENS. “Especially now as ICE is tearing immigrant families apart, Las Posadas reminds us that Mary and Joseph’s journey was a journey of perseverance and the need to be hospitable with our neighbors.”
Throughout December, Louisiana, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, has been the target of ICE raids in a sweep dubbed by the Trump administration “Operation Catahoula Crunch.” So far, “dozens” of people have been arrested, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The state is home to nine ICE detention facilities, where, as of Nov. 10, 8,137 detainees were being held.
Last month, ahead of the raids, Louisiana Bishop Shannon Duckworth issued a statement upholding the baptismal covenant’s call to respect the dignity of every human being:
“To those living in fear during this time … while we cannot prevent lawful enforcement actions, we can stand with you, spiritually, pastorally and humanely, so that fear does not have the final word.”
Dillon said members of St. Margaret’s Latino ministry, La Mesa, considered canceling this year’s La Posadas celebration, but decided to continue the celebration as normal “so that we do not give in to fear.” (Baton Rouge’s Catholic bishop issued an indefinite dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass.)
Volunteers will carpool and offer to accompany Latino families planning to celebrate in person.
“We are going to make room and share the light of Jesus. … We want to be a visible sign of welcoming and for us not to do it just doesn’t seem like it’s the gospel,” Dillon said. We have to be visible. We have to have courage. But if you don’t feel comfortable coming, there are other people that will walk this route on your behalf.”
-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.