MAYFIELD, Ky. — This weekend, Saint Joseph Catholic Church and First Hispanic Baptist Church in Mayfield will host events on Sept. 14 and 15, respectively, to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.
Running annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates the history and culture of Hispanic Americans with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Angela Garcia, a member of the planning committee for Saint Joseph, said the festivities showcase the joys of Hispanic culture and connect members of the community deeper to their roots.
Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Saint Joseph will sell traditional cuisine from Mexico, Guatemala and Columbia and American foods like hot dogs and hamburgers.
Other festival activities include mini train rides, face painting, clown shows, dancers and bands — all rendered with cultural specificity.
A procession in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The main event at 5:15 p.m. is a procession where horsemen in customary rodeo garb ride from the downtown court square to Saint Joseph, along with women walking in flora gold dresses.
Garcia said Hispanic Heritage Month honors the community’s growth throughout the country, such as Mayfield. She said the event originated as a small church picnic and budded into widespread recognition throughout the city, promoting unity across varying cultural lines.
As Mayfield accepted their traditions, Garcia said Hispanic people were able to contribute to the larger landscape, and feel a sense of belonging while they preserve their legacy.
Jaime Masso, the pastor at First Hispanic Baptist Church, said his institution’s celebration will also focus on contributions to the broader Mayfield community and highlight Hispanic culture in its various subsets.
The logo for First Hispanic Baptist Church in Mayfield.
Starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, the church will host an outdoor meal with famous dishes from Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking countries.
Members will don attire evocative of their home and ancestral countries. There will be music and elements to commemorate Hispanic history, especially its intersection with religious faith.
Dishes will include tamales from Mexico, pozole from Guatemala and Mexico, and mofongo from Puerto Rico.
By honoring the nuances in Hispanic culture, Masso said that the central bonds are only reinforced as a group of immigrants that remained unified and resilient when they relocated to the U.S.
Masso said the sense of togetherness expands to the rest of Mayfield. He said Hispanic Heritage Month upholds specific tradition, but fellowship is extended to non-Hispanic people in the city.
Masso summed up the impact of Hispanic people on the Mayfield community. Thirty percent of the population is Hispanic; several own and operate small businesses; many perform essential roles like roofers, builders and mechanics; and First Hispanic Baptist Church responded with relief efforts to the December 2021 tornado.
Masso encouraged everyone in Mayfield to attend and partake in an evening of camaraderie that transcends cultural barriers.
Will Spencer is a reporter for the Mayfield Messenger. Visit mayfield-messenger.com to read the full article.
