Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
OGDEN — Call it a Christmastime combination.
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ogden this week is melding the pre-Christmas customs of its members with roots in Mexico and the Philippines — Las Posadas and Simbang Gabi — in a bid to foster unity.
"The idea behind all of this is bring our people together, our community together, so everyone is welcome, not only Catholics," said Father Joshua Maria Santos, originally from the Philippines but now a U.S. citizen.
Las Posadas is a major Christmastime tradition in Mexico and other Latin American countries typically celebrated Dec. 16-24 meant to represent the search for lodging by Mary and Joseph on the eve of Christ's birth. Simbang Gabi, which translates to Night Mass, is a Filipino tradition spread over the same nine days, in anticipation of Christmas that's meant to honor the Blessed Mother, Mary, according to the St. Joseph Catholic Church newsletter.
The activities at St. Joseph Catholic Church, which has a predominantly Spanish-speaking membership, Santos said, started last Friday and are to continue each day this week. On Monday, participants — largely of Latino and Filipino descent — gathered for a mass at St. Joseph that mixed English, Spanish and Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines. They also sang Christmas carols in English and Tagalog.
After the mass and music, participants gathered in the church basement for a brief representation of Joseph and Mary seeking lodging, portrayed by Jesus Contreras and Judith Castaneda, and food.
"Our cultures are really alike so it's very easy to adapt the celebrations," said Alberto Vazquez of Harrisville, who remembers expansive Las Posadas celebrations in his native Mexico before coming to the United States. The Philippines, he noted, was conquered by Spain in the 16th century, like Mexico, though each nation later gained independence.
Elvie Haring, originally from the Philippines but now living in Clearfield, sat with two friends also originally from the southeast Asian nation, Purita Buck, now of Roy, and Gloria Hadley, who lives in Layton.
"We combine the Philippines and Mexico," Haring said. "I think it's fun."
Las Posadas and Simbang Gabi as celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church differ in how they are marked in Mexico and the Philippines, though the underlying intent remains the same. Vazquez said the nine days of the Las Posadas celebrations he remembers from Mexico would typically be held at rotating homes each day. Simbang Gabi Masses in the Philippines are traditionally held before dawn to accommodate farmers who need to work early in the morning.
"Of course here in Ogden, in Utah, we cannot do that because of the snow and everything. So we try to innovate," Santos said.
Father Victor Alvarado, who also serves at St. Joseph, sees the melded celebration between the Latino and Filipino cultures as an achievement. "I think it's a miracle of Christmas," he said.
