St. Pat students portray Las Posadas
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Students at St. Patrick School in Canonsburg sing Christmas carols Thursday as they follow Vanessa and Patrick McQuiggan, playing Mary and Joseph, during a Las Posadas display put on at the school.
Lucy Hosni leads students at St. Patrick School in singing Christmas carols during a Los Posadas celebration of the Nativity by South America and Hispanic Americans in Canonsburg on Thursday.
CANONSBURG – On Thursday, a pregnant woman and her husband were denied accommodations at every door upon which they knocked.
“Please, give us shelter for the night,” the man implored. “My wife is pregnant.”
“No!” strong voices replied.
Finally, though, at the last door, the voices pointed them in the direction of possible refuge.
The doors parted as they approached, and the couple was welcomed inside St. Patrick Parish.
The scene was a portrayal of Las Posadas, “The Inns,” a tradition celebrated in Mexico, Central America and many Hispanic communities in the United States. During Las Posadas, the journey that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was believed to have been born, is re-enacted.
Mary and Joseph, portrayed by Patrick and Vanessa McQuiggan, whose baby is due in April, were accompanied by the students of St. Patrick’s School, who pulled along a donkey and sang Christmas songs such as “Joy to the World,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
This is the second year for the event, which Principal Patricia Osekowski said the school plans to continue as a tradition.
Last year, only students in preschool through third grade took part in the event. This year, though, the journey was expanded to include the entire school.
The idea to participate in Las Posadas was introduced by Spanish teacher Sylvia Banish.
“She not only teaches the students Spanish, but she also teaches about different cultures,” said Osekowski. “This really adds to the festivities of the season.”
When the group arrived in the sanctuary, Osekowski read from the Gospel of Luke, and students joined the music teacher in singing “Silent Night.”