Diocese of New Ulm - December 2006

Las Posadas

In preparation for the feast of Christmas the Hispanic community in the Diocese of New Ulm will be celebrating a nine-day novena (December 16-24) commonly called Las Posadas.

The devotion is built around the rosary and various meditations and reflections. Added to this is the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging (or "posada") in Bethlehem. Children dress up as Our Lady and St. Joseph (called in Spanish the "Santos Peregrinos"). 

The Posada usually ends with the breaking of the piñata - a  pottery or paper container, many times shaped like a bull or donkey, that is filled with candy and suspended from the ceiling on a rope. Each child is blindfolded and attempts to break the pinata with a stick or bat. The child who succeeds is the hero of the festival and the candy is shared by all.

Las Posadas is celebrated as many nights as possible, either in church or with neighbors at home. Information about this year’s scheduling of the Las Posadas is available on the Diocese of New Ulm Web site, www.dnu.org or by contacting Sr. Anna Marie Reha, diocesan director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry (507) 359-2966.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Spanish speaking Catholics in the United States bring a popular piety and a great love and devotion of Mary, the Virgin de Guadalupe. This piety can bring a tremendous richness and contribute to the prayer and faith life of the community, parish, and Area Faith Community throughout the Diocese of New Ulm.

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th, honors Mary as the Queen of the Americas and recalls her apparitions to the indigenous man Saint Juan Diego (canonized in 2002).  The Hispanic community customarily celebrates a nine-day novena leading up to the feast. On the feast day itself, people often go early in the morning to honor her, singing an early morning serenade called Mañanitas. The main service is a solemn Mass which may include a variety of elements: processions, costumed native dances (called matachines), and people offering bouquets of roses to Our Lady. 

Celebration locations, dates and times are as follows:

St. Mary, Sleepy Eye

December 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Redeemer, Marshall

December 9, Midnight: Mañanitas; December 10 at noon

St. Philip, Litchfield

December 10 at 12:30 p.m.

St. Pius X, Glencoe

December 11, Midnight: Mañanitas; December 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Redeemer, Renville

December 9 at 5:30 p.m.;

December 11 Midnight: Mañanitas

St. Mary, Willmar

December 10 at noon

St. Anastasia, Hutchinson

December 9 at 6:30 p.m.

St. Joseph, Montevideo

December 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Visit the Office of Hispanic Ministry, www.dnu.org