FROM MEXICO’S TRADITIONAL huipil tunics and the Vietnamese áo dài to the Catholic school plaid, children of different cultural heritages recently came together to celebrate the Blessed Mother.
Pax Christi Academies celebrated the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a special multi-school program on Dec. 12 at La Purísima Catholic Church in Orange. The student-led day was held in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. It featured music, singing, dancing and a skit from the five Pax Christi Academies campuses: La Purísima, St. Anne, St. Barbara, St. Joseph (Santa Ana) and St. Justin Martyr.
STUDENTS WITH THE ST. ANNE PARISH SCHOOL MARIACHI PROGRAM PLAY A SONG DURING THE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PROGRAM ON DEC. 12. BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“This morning, our students are presenting their talents and gifts to our patroness of this diocese,” said Pax Christi Academies President Dr. Christina Arellano to the audience.
Pax Christi Academies is the umbrella organization for the five schools that have banded together for shared governance and resources. Assembling them all together adds to the beauty of the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, noted Fr. Angelos Sebastian, the diocese’s vicar general and moderator of the curia, who also serves on the Pax Christi board of directors.
“Bringing these five schools together conveys that message that we are all one: one entity,” Fr. Angelos said.
The La Purísima community decorated its church, and the students worked hard to prepare for their presentations, according to La Purísima’s principal Rosa Ramirez.
“I’m happy to see the community come together. I’m happy to see all five of the schools come together,” Ramirez said.
SECOND-GRADE STUDENTS FROM ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC SCHOOL PERFORM DURING THE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PROGRAM HELD ON DEC. 12.
The students put on a skit narrating and silently acting out the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego. As they told the story they lit five candles that symbolized faith; obedience and courage; compassion and healing; a miracle; and the mission of hope.
“Today we gather together to remember the powerful and beautiful story of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said one student. “This is the story of faith, courage, compassion, miraculous love and enduring hope. As we light each candle, we reflect on a part of the story, and the message Mary brings to all.”
The La Purísima choir also joined with the St. Justin Martyr choir to sing Hail Mary, Gentle Woman. St. Anne’s mariachi band opened the program with La Guadalupana and closed with Dios Te Salve. The second graders at St. Barbara performed a dance, which their teacher Elizabeth Puccio taught them over the last two weeks.
“It went beautifully,” said Puccio of the overall program. “All the kids got so involved and I love the mariachi band. It was beautiful and they really enjoyed coming and doing this.”
Students across the five schools lead the program in multilingual prayers, with La Purísima pastor Fr. Martin Nguyen providing Scripture.
Fr. Angelos said he hopes the children take away the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“She’s our mother,” he said. “She’s there to love us, to protect us, to guide us and to have that special love and devotion to our Blessed Mother is always important for us Catholics.”