An Annual Cross-border Celebration
Since 2001, the Diocese of Tucson, in collaboration with the Dioceses of Hermosillo and Phoenix has coordinated an annual La Posada procession and celebration at the International Border in Nogales. Here we touch upon years past:
- 2011-- La Posadas was again planned by DWB’s and KINO. This year the Posada started at the Nogales, Sonora Plaza near the DeConcini Port and the procession was along the Border wall. KINO teens were Mary, Joseph and the Angel. Again our celebration was at the comedor.
- 2010--Planning for the 2010 Posada was again done by the KBI and DWB’s partners. KINO teens were Mary, Joseph and the Angel. The Comedor was our place of celebration.
- 2009--In 2009 the Border partners and KINO Initiative planned the Posada. The KINO Comedor for deported migrants was the reception place for the Posada now located at the Mariposa Port of Entry to MX. KINO Teens were the Mary, Joseph and the Angel. IS THIS the year that we started to use the Burro???
Sr. Engracia Robles furnished her first engaging script for the ritual of the Posada. Bishop Kicanas was present and we feasted at the Comedor following the Posada.
- 2008--Dioceses Without Borders partners planned the 2008 Posada. This Posada took place on the Thanksgiving weekend. Lourdes HS provided Mary, Joseph and the Angel.
- 2007--Fr. Remmel took leadership of the Posada as part of the Diocese Without Border partnership. Sr. Engracia Robles of BorderLinks helped with plans and Lourdes Catholic School provided the USA Mary and Joseph and the Angel. The students carried the gift basket for the immigrants. Fr. Sean Carroll who would become the KINO Border Initiative leader, was with us for this Posada. The reception in Mx was at Cristo Rey Church where Fr. Cayetano is Pastor. Music for the Posada was provided by the Cristo Rey Music Ministry, and they provided Posada accompaniement and entertainment through the years from 2007 on to the present year. Young people from Phoenix, Ambos Nogles were present. Fr. Ivan of Familia Segrada in Agua Prieta accompanied his Youth to the Posada.
- 2006--Dioceses Without Borders planned the Posada of 2006. Lourdes High School brought the Mary and Joseph and the Angel, students from the School. The Reception in Mexico was at an Orphanage.
- 2005--The year of 2005 the Teens from Phoenix joined with the teens of SEAS and the Young Missionaries led the Posada. The reception was at the Santuario de Guadalupe. Carrying large banners through the streets to reach the Santuario helped with traffic control. Bishop Kicanas was with us.
- 2004--The SEAS Youth and the Young Missionaries again organized the 2004 La posada. Students from Lourdes HS were the pilgrims on the USA side. Migrants chosen off the street were the Mary and Joseph accompanying the Mexico attendees. Bishop Kicanas was present for the first time as the new Bishop of Tucson.
- 2003--The La Posada in 2003 was organized by Tere Scully and Teens from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Tucson. The Posada took place in Ambos Nogales. The Teens formed a partnership with the League of Young Missionaries in Nogales, Sonora. The simultaneous Posada at the Wall where the screened areas allowed participants to see and hear one another again, was the Posada location. When the Mexico side asked for shelter, the American side responded with all the reasons why they do not want migrants. The reception following the Posada was held at the Purisima Church in Mexico.
- 2002--The year 2002 brought the Dioceses Without Borders Posada attendees to Douglas, Arizona where our partners there hosted the posada at the ‘wall’ between Douglas and Agua Prieta, Sonora, MX. A wonderful Posada meal and entertainment at Familia Sagrada parish found the participants again lifted up in Spirit that we could be with each other during the Advent Season.
- 2001--The first bi-national Posada in Ambos Nogales on the US/MX Border was coordinated by the Dioceses of Hermosillo, Tucson and Phoenix. The cold and the rain didn’t rain on the parade of the solidarity shown and felt at this first La Posada that found the participants of MX and the USA looking through the ‘wall’ at each other during the Posada ritual. The screened areas of the wall provided the opportunity to hear each other pray and sing, accompanied by musicians. Also accompanying the attendees were Children from Lourdes High School who were dressed as Mary, Joseph and an Angel.
The Archdiocese of Hermosillo also presented a Mary, on a Burro, and Joseph. There was high enthusiasm that was not to be diminished by rain and cold. Following the Posada the USA participants crossed at the Morley Entrance and there was great celebration upon being welcomed into Mexico, with songs, candy, gifts and greetings. Bishop Manuel Moreno of Tucson and Archbishop Ulysses Macias of Hermosillo blessed the participants and shared sentiments of ‘solidarity’ in One Body of Christ in One America’.
