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By Yolanda Nájera-Ewing
Superior Sun
The ballots are in and the votes have been counted showing that Jessica and Manuel Castillo have been chosen as the Grand Marshals for this year’s Fiesta Parade.
Manuel is a long-standing member of the St. Francis Church Knights of Columbus and Jessica has been involved in the church luncheon program and church breakfasts for many years. Both have been leaders and teachers of the Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) for over a decade. They sponsor many fund raisers including sales of used items, pastry events and food sales in order to raise money for the CYM annual retreat in Prescott. For almost as many years, the two have chaired the game booths for the annual St. Francis Fiestas Patrias. Additionally, Manuel works in the setting up before the fiesta and in the clean up after the fiesta. Jessica is also in charge of a booth which sells a variety of items. The couple also donates much of their time to the youth of the community. They will be leading the Fiesta Parade which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The fiesta agenda remains the same with the car show starting at 9 a.m. Saturday with cars lining both sides of Main Street in front of the church. The food booths will open at 9 a.m. on both days this weekend, but will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday for Mass and the crowning of the Fiesta Queen. The booths will re-open at 6 p.m. Alisha Garcia and Emma Sanchez are this year’s two queen candidates. One of the two will be crowned and will reign over the fiesta activities.
Games and other booths will open early in the afternoon on both days. Tickets for all purchases will be sold at the fiesta grounds. Tickets for making purchases at the fiesta will not be sold prior to the beginning of the fiesta. Tickets for the annual Fiesta Fund Raiser will be the only tickets sold prior to Sept. 13. Winners of the fund raiser will receive $300, $150 and $75 for first, second and third places respectively.
Headliners, Mariachi Alma Mexicana, of Tucson will be performing Saturday and Sunday. Additional entertainment for both days will also be provided by Baile Folklorico Alma de Superior and Billie Jo’s Hip Hop group. Other local talent will also be part of the entertainment.
Donations of a monetary nature, products, supplies, or labor are much needed and will be very welcomed. Of the above, labor is the most in need. Individuals are still in need to man the fiesta booths. Everyone is urged to consider volunteering their time to the weekend event. All donations are tax deductible and the Fiesta Committee is providing the tax identification number to all those making donations. Those wanting to make donations or volunteer their time may call Fiestas Co-Chair Steve Lopez (689-5059), Fiestas co-chair Olga Lopez (520-827-4119), and the church office (689-2250).
For more than two centuries, Mexico has celebrated its independence from Spain in September of 1810, just as Superior’s St. Francis Church has celebrated this independence with fellowship and community for more than three decades. It all began on the night of Sept. 15, and near dawn on Sunday, Sept. 16, 1810. This was when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a 57-year-old priest, gathered his parishioners and called them to rise up in arms – even with stones, slings, sticks or spears – in order to defend their faith and dignity.
What Hidalgo intended, and accomplished, was to launch his flock against the Spaniards born in Spain and living in Mexico, who had been exploiting the wealth of the Mexican people with great injustice for 300 years. Soon he was joined by more than 50 thousand, mainly indigenous men, from the poorest levels of society.
A few months later, in July of 1811, Hidalgo was tried by the Spanish Inquisition, condemned by the civil authorities, and executed. However, by then, the seed had already begun to sprout which took the form of the Mexican War of Independence. The movement was primarily led by armed parish priests.
To this day residents of Mexico City, as well visitors, congregate annually on the central plaza of Mexico City to participate in the ritual of “El Grito,” (Hidalgo’s cry to arms). Mexico’s presidents have stood on the main balcony of the National Palace to lead Hidalgos patriotic cry.
The annual St. Francis Church Fiestas Patrias have always been more than a fund raiser. They have honored the independence of Mexico, and been a local tradition for three decades. They are viewed by its sponsors as a community event for all ages.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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