Las Posadas

The holiday known as Las Posadas re-enacts Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay before the birth of Christ. The celebration includes a procession led by children, followed by adults and musicians who travel to a different house in the neighborhood each night looking for lodging. The people are invited into the home to read scriptures and sing Christmas carols. Soon after, the celebration begins, with music, food, candy, and treats for all. This tradition was celebrated at Sacred Heart on Sunday December 20, and continued each night until Christmas Eve on Thursday. Las Posadas is one of the many rich traditions celebrated at Sacred Heart Parish.

This story and photos courtesy of Ana L. Galván de Tiscareño.

Tres Reyes Magos

The celebration of the Epiphany, January 6, at Sacred Heart began with singing for the Christ Child and the entrance of the godparents, Teresa and Francisco Garay. (It is a custom in Mexico to find "padrinos," godparents or sponsors, for Baby Jesus, "Niño Dios," who are responsible for making new clothing for the infant and for dressing Him in front of all the people attending. This custom varies a bit from state to state in Mexico.) Then the gospel according to Mathew chapter 2:1-12 was read and the Wise Men made their entrance bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and prostrating themselves to honor the new-born king.
Jorge Reyes acted as a translator for questions from the children to the wise men. One little girl asked, "How did you know that this was the child you were looking for?" The man from the far east explained that they believed what had been written in the Sacred Scriptures, that a king would be born to be the Messiah. The Wise Men then followed the star that lead them to Bethelem.
After the Wise Men answered questions, they gave presents to the children, sang to Baby Jesus and then everybody enjoyed a Mexican hot chocolate and traditional "Rosca de Reyes," Three Kings Cake or Kings Day Mexican Sweet Bread.
Top photo, godparents Teresa and Francisco Garay dress Baby Jesus in the hand-knitted garment.
Middle photo, the Three Kings, Francisco Fabian in purple, Ruperto Mariscal in red, and Agustin Paez in silver, pay homage to the Christ Child.
Bottom photo, the children receive presents from the Wise Men.
This story and photos courtesy of Ana L. Galván de Tiscareño.

Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe

It was dark and cold at 6:30 am on Saturday December 12 when members of Sacred Heart Parish gathered to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. The day began with singing and Mariachi music, followed by a procession to Centro San Juan Diego on Lawrence Street, a hearty breakfast and return to Sacred Heart Church for Mass at 10 am. Monsignor Jorge de Los Santos celebrated Mass and parishioners presented the story of Mary's appearance to Juan Diego, a poor humble Aztec Indian.

On December 9, 1531, in Mexico, Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego, who had recently converted to the Catholic faith. She asked him to go to the bishop and tell him to build a church where she said "I will show and offer all of my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to my people." Juan Diego did as she asked, but the bishop asked for a sign that this message was really from Our Lady.

Mary granted his request. On December 12, she showed Juan where the most beautiful Castilian roses were and told him to gather them. It was a miracle that the roses were there and in bloom because the ground was an infertile place where only cactus and thistles grew and the weather was cold. After Juan Diego gathered them, she helped arrange them in his tilma, or cloak, and told him to show them to the bishop.

When Juan Diego brought the roses to the bishop, he was amazed at the flowers, but was even more amazed at what began to happen to Juan Diego's tilma. Right before their very eyes, the image of Our Lady began to form on the cloth, and the bishop fell to his knees. He had the church built.

After 470 years, the colors have not faded and the cloth has not deteriorated. The tilma has been on display in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for all this time.

Christmas 2009

Christmas at Sacred Heart begins with Posadas, which means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish, and recreates Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The celebration begins Sunday night, December 20, and continues Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

There will be a bilingual Mass Thursday evening, Christmas Eve, at 6 pm and a Mass in English Christmas Day at 10 am.

Masses New Year's Day will be at 8 am in English and a bilingual Mass at noon.

For more information, call 303-294-9830.

Religious Education

The Sacred Heart Church Journal and School Calendar of September 1899 lists the names of 78 new pupils, who would be welcomed by Sisters Catherine Sienna, Mary Seton and Avila of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio. Both the church and school were growing until the 1920s, when the neighborhood lost residents to the new suburbs of City Park and Park Hill,and eventually, the school would close its doors in 1979.

Growth has returned to the neighborhood around the parish and religious education continues at Sacred Heart parish with over 200 children receiving instruction in 10 newly-painted and upgraded classrooms. Religious studies are also available to those wishing to learn about the Catholic faith, couples wanting to be married in the Church and those who wish to have their children baptized.

Call 303-294-9830 for more information.

Sacred Heart High School Class of 1899, Robert Egerer, George Brown, Katie Carroll, Cecelia Bautsch, Willie Reidy, Agnes O'Keefe, and Angela Gilmore.

Parents, teachers and students are ready for Saturday's classes. Photo Mary Lou Egan

Saturday mornings at Sacred Heart

Saturday, September 19 was a busy morning at Sacred Heart parish. Deacon Ruben Estrada spoke to a church filled with the families of nine children awaiting Baptism, their parents and sponsors. In both English and Spanish, Deacon Estrada said that the parties that would be held later were a wonderful time for families to get together but were not the most important part of the celebration. He reminded everyone that Baptism is the beginning of the Christian life and a day by day responsibility of parents and families.

Outside the recently restored rectory, 200 children and their parents were receiving information on their teachers the and location of their religious education classes. 10 newly painted and upgraded rooms welcomed the students for the year.

Religious studies are also available to those wishing to learn about the Catholic faith, couples wanting to be married in the Church and those who wish to have their children baptized.

Call 303-294-9830 for more information.

Parish Celebrates 130 Years

The sun shown on the gathering crowd as the bell in the steeple announced the celebration - Sacred Heart Parish was 130 years old on September 19. Visitors admired the many renovations to the historic structure including the restoration of the original red brick surface, the cleaning of the stained-glass windows and the rebuilt stairway to the front of the church. Less visible were the extensive heating and air conditioning upgrades and an additional fire escape that brought the buildings up to current fire codes. Many elderly parishioners were particularly grateful for the elevator that brings worshippers from the ground floor to the main body of the church.

The open house was followed by a celebration of the Mass by Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Two choirs of the parish sang as several councils of Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians processed ahead of numerous clergy, parishioners and visitors. In his homily, Archbishop Chaput reminded the congregation of the work of those had come before - the founders, the Jesuits and Capuchins - and gave special recognition to Father Marcus Medrano for "keeping the faith" for so many years. The archbishop focused on the gospel of Mark, which teaches us that "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all." The archbishop added that churches should be “schools where we learn how to love, making ourselves like children, simple and dependent on God.”

The celebration continued at Centro San Juan Diego, the former Sacred Heart School, at 2860 Lawrence Street.

The parish invites visitors to the church with daily Mass at 8 am in the chapel on the ground floor, and Sunday Masses at 8 am, 9:45 am (Spanish) and 11:30 am.

Long-time parishioner, Erma Zamora, describes plans for the prayer garden.

Archbishop Chaput selected Spencer to demonstrate how Christians should become like children before God.