By Elizabeth '24

Last night Notre Dame celebrated Las Posadas. The event brings our community together for prayer with Mary and Joseph as we recount their journey to Bethlehem. A joint event between Latinas Unidas, ND Compadres and campus ministry, the evening featured prayer, feasting, entertainment and mariachi and was enjoyed by more than 200 people!

This tradition of Catholic faith and Mexican culture acknowledges the waiting, hoping, and yes, traveling of the Advent season. On one level, the celebration is a reminder that Mary and Joseph faced many of the same hardships that families do today. What must it have been like for the Holy Family to travel away from home at such an expectant and vulnerable time and be met with little hospitality or warmth? Today we see these same challenges - poverty, lack of shelter from the cold, hunger and illness - faced by many in our wider community. And yet, a life was born, a miracle of love came into the world on that night so long ago. It is in this spirit and belief that love will shine and the light will show us the way that we celebrated this year.

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur faced a crossroad here in San Jose 172 years ago. The Mexican puebla was becoming a new California state capital and cultures were in dialogue. Today, we see the same for our San Jose home. As one of the most diverse cities in the nation, our school community is a place where that meeting of faiths, cultures and families is celebrated.