Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > News > Las Posadas, campus lighting are Chaminade traditions

Las Posadas, campus lighting are Chaminade traditions

By Ericka Agdinaoay
Chaminade Silversword

 

Mary and Joseph's cold and difficult journey from Hale Lokelani to the Mystical Rose Oratory led them to CTC Ching Hall in search of shelter for the birth of Jesus. It was held on the Chaminade campus on Nov. 28.

Eleven years ago, Chaminade University came up with some type of event leading up to the campus lighting for Christmas. But for five years now, the Spanish Club volunteered to collaborate with Campus Ministry to perform a Las Posadas procession around the campus.

Las Posadas, which means “the inn or shelter,” is a Hispanic tradition where they re-enact Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay as Mary’s time to give birth to Jesus drew near.

“It’s a way to begin the Christmas season on our campus,” said Kay Stone, who is the director of Campus Ministry and the coordinator of the event.

Members of the Spanish club play the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph, the angels and the devils. Everyone else is a followed by pilgrims who join the journey. The RAs are the “inn keepers” who refuse the Holy Family a place to stay.

For Chaminade’s Las Posadas, the journey starts at Hale Lokelani, where Mary and Joseph ask the RAs for a place to stay. The angels nod yes, the devils say no and the Holy Family is told “no.” So they proceed to Hale Pohaku where the Holy Family is again refused.

According to Stone, in past years the procession would have gone to one of the Marianist communities however this year they stopped at Mystical Rose Oratory because all the Marianists on campus were attending a meeting.

After being refused at Mystical Rose, the Holy Family continued on to CTC Ching Hall where Brother Bernie welcomed the Holy Family inside. Mary and Joseph return outside in about a minute, Mary held Baby Jesus. At this point, all the Christmas lights are turned on.

Ernesto Olmos, a freshman from Los Angeles, played the role of Joseph. He explained that the story behind Chaminade’s procession is similar to his back at home.

“Back at home, we walk around our neighborhood praying with our rosaries,” Olmos said. “There are people who carry the figures of Mary and Joseph, and the rest of the community would follow along and act as pilgrims. Here at Chaminade, we added a little comedy here and there. It was really fun.”

Jessica Wences, a junior transfer also from Los Angeles, played the role of Mary enjoyed the night’s festivities.

“The Las Posadas here was really funny,” Wences said. “We added our own modern twist.”

At one point, when Mary and Joseph stopped at Hale Pohaku, Joseph was arguing in spanish with the Samoan RA. Both Wences and Olmos agreed that the night’s event went better that what they expected.

“It was a big deal for me because I felt that it was important for me to showcase my Mexican culture to Chaminade,” Wences said.