From left: Father Peter Neeley, J.S., KBI Assistant Director of Education and Shel Zantkin holding the banner in front of the Comedor that translates from Spanish: “In the Church, no one is a foreigner,” John Paul II
Getting on donkey
From left: Ricardo Osburn, monk and Steve Teichner. Ricardo and Steve are Democratic Club members.
Cindy Mayron
On December 13, members and guests representing the Democratic Club of Quail Creek, braved the rain to experience the annual La Posada Navidena, in Nogales, Mexico, sponsored by the Kino Border Initiative (KBI). La Posada originated in Spain and has been celebrated in Mexico since the 16th Century. It recreates Mary and Joseph’s journey seeking hospitality and lodging in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
Before joining the procession, Father Sean Carroll, J.S., KBI executive director, explained how KBI provides hot meals and other services to deported migrants as well as shelter for women and children. “Every year thousands of migrant men, women and children are deported—often arriving with only the clothes on their backs and a small plastic bag with their belongings. They often don’t know where to find a meal, shelter or to make a phone call,” said Father Sean. KBI also tries to help migrants return to their homes and discourages them from attempting to try recrossing back into the U.S.
The procession made four stops along the route. The first stop was next to the border fence with Mary (pregnant and riding a real donkey) and Joseph seeking hospitality. At the second stop, readings, prayers and songs focused on the importance of family unity. The third stop focused on Mary and Joseph’s inability to find lodging. Mary and Joseph are finally welcomed at the final stop where they find lodging and a meal.
Patty Zantkin, an invited guest, observed: “Although I had worked at the Comedor (the KBI meal services facility) before, I had never had much chance to mingle with the volunteers or migrants. During the procession, I observed a man using a cane and dragging his left foot while following the procession in the pouring rain. He took his turn holding one end of a banner while laughing, smiling and singing in Spanish. I worried that he would trip on the string I saw unwinding on the stick holding the banner. When I grabbed the stick to rewind the string, he laughed and thanked me. When I offered to carry his end of the banner he smiled and let me and he continued following the procession.”