The traditional pastorelas of the novena of the Child Jesus of the San Francisco de Asís de Camoapa parish will be held inside the temple because the regime’s Police have restricted the processions, explained the catechist Cruz María Flores.
During the novena, dedicated to the Child Jesus, the pastorelas have become a religious tradition incorporated into the Christmas season. These are experiential processions that have been held for years in the streets of Camoapa and that reflect the journey of the Virgin Mary before the birth of Jesus.
The pastorelas begin this December 16, together with the novena on the occasion of the birth of “the savior of the world”. The processions visited Catholic homes, where the posadas are staged. History was revived with parades and allusive songs that recall the trip to Bethlehem.
An outdoor tradition
The pastorelas are promoted by the catechetical groups and boys and girls participate in it. “You know how the situation is, that we have to ask for permission to have processions, so the parish made the decision to reduce activities inside the temple”explains Flores.
Those who organize the activities hope that the community maintains the Christmas spirit and joins the festive program that will now be inside the parish church. “Already from this Monday, some people begin with the placement of the nativity scene, because our parish priest has requested it, so that they have the opportunity to pray in front of the manger”, says the person in charge.
spiritual recollection
Christmas is a party in various areas of life in a community, but the Church has always highlighted the spiritual part, due to the significance of the birth of the Child Jesus. “It is a time of prayer and we must ask the Lord in his childhood to give us strength”, emphasized Father Mario Talavera, parish priest of the San Francisco de Asís Church, during the Sunday mass on December 11.
Related news: Camoapa takes San Francisco de Asís in procession in the midst of persecution of the Church
In this season, the Church celebrates the time of Advent as a spiritual exercise that prepares the community before the birth of the Child Jesus to live the Christmas party, Catholic temples and homes make allusive decorations, although the influence of other cultures incorporates elements like the tree and characters like Saint Nicholas.
In Camoapa, the Christmas tradition had pastorelas, but this experiential experience will have to be carried out inside Catholic homes and temples. This year, the songs of boys and girls who accompany the representation of the Virgin Mary mounted on a donkey and in search of a generous inn will no longer be heard in the streets.
