In these crazy times of COVID-19, we all strive to continue our lives as “normal” as possible. In the Hill Country, the fall is often a time of festivals, celebrations, and fund raisers. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church in San Saba, Texas, we, like many others, are getting creative when looking at traditional festivals and celebrations.
In an effort to continue our annual Festival, while being safe and practicing social distancing, we are moving our event to Risien Park in San Saba. This beautiful, tree laden park provides space to spread out, as well as great shaded areas. Families can easily gather, yet leave a safe distance between them and other families while they enjoy entertainment and great food.
As the Planning Committee looked at dates and opportunities, it was clear that a Festival so close to September 16th must include some traditions of the Diez Y Seis Celebrations. With this in mind, St. Mary’s partnered with the City of San Saba to bring a Community Diez Y Seis Celebration to our little town.
We invite all of you to this community Celebration. Share in the day’s entertainment from local groups to the Round Rock Ballet Folklorico dancers. Hungry? Be sure to purchase your favorite home-cooked foods and sweets prepared by our parishioners! Don't forget to purchase tickets to test your luck in our great raffle. There will be entertainment and music throughout the day and we will close the evening with a live band and dance.
As an integral part of this Celebration, we have four of our young parishioners vying for Queen of the Celebration. Queen candidates include: Irene Jimenez (325-205-2463); Damaris Patiño (325-205-1649); Roció Argote (325-372-8740) and Kristi Macias (325-205-9211).
Please support these young women. In their quest for Queen, they will be selling raffle tickets from now until the day of the event. Raffle tickets (compliments of Heritage Funeral Homes of Texas, Inc.) are $20.00 for 6 tickets or $5.00 per ticket. The following prizes will be raffled:
1st Prize:
Lawn Mower - donated by St. Mary's ushers
2nd Prize:
Samsung 55" Smart TV - donated by Weik Family
3rd Prize:
Outdoor Gourmet 4-Burner Griddle - donated by Moorhead Family
Here is the information for the Celebration:
• Community Diez Y Seis Celebration, September 12, 2020, 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• Risien Park on Hwy 190, San Saba, TX
• Admission $5.00 per adult; children 10 and under Free
• Please no outside food, drink or coolers
• All proceeds benefit St. Mary’s
A little history on Dieciseis de Septiembre…. Before Texas was Texas, the Lone Star State was part of the Spanish empire. The colony, called New Spain, spanned present-day Mexico to California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, and parts of Oklahoma and Cuba.
Over the course of 300 years, the people of New Spain were in search of Independence. In 1810, the Creolles, people who were born in the New World but were full-blooded Spanish, felt oppressed and developed an entirely new identity.
A priest and a member of the Creolles known as Father Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla, took a stand against Spain with the "grito de Delores," a cry for revolution. On September 16, 1810 (Dieciseis de Septiembre), Hidalgo launched the war for Mexico's Independence against Spain. And after 11 years, Mexico became independent in 1821. Dieciseis de Septiembre is the country's Independence Day much like the United States has Fourth of July.
As Texans, we celebrate holidays such as Diez y Seis de Septiembre and other cultural events because of Texas' extraordinarily rich history. We are proud to be Texans but also share in a blended heritage that should not be forgotten. Texas was a part of Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and we are a part of the United States. Celebrating the Mexican-American culture is a part of the Texas experience.
Come out and celebrate ALL our freedoms!
