A Fiesta of Love

The annual State Fair of Colorado, held in Pueblo, always designates its last day as a celebration of culture and diversity. This is known as Fiesta Day. Special events are scheduled to memorialize the historic Hispanic presence which has existed and flourished for some eight generations prior to the foundation of the State of Colorado, and which inspires us through this present day.

Fiesta Day begins with a bilingual outdoor Mariachi Mass that celebrates Hispanic heritage, recognizes young women for their service to their communities, and gives thanks for the faith inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Diocese of Pueblo and of all the Americas. The Mass is followed by a vibrant parade through the Bessemer area, one of the historic neighborhoods of Pueblo, beginning and ending close to the State Fairgrounds.  In that parade, as Bishop I ride in a “chic” local convertible throwing wristbands to kids which say, “Jesus Loves Me,” amidst a plethora of hot cars that bump up and down, excitable horses, high school bands, civic clubs and local organizations, silly clowns, revved up motorcycles, etc. etc. It is a lot of fun.

"Fiesta Day begins with a bilingual outdoor Mariachi Mass that celebrates Hispanic heritage, recognizes young women for their service to their communities, and gives thanks for the faith inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Diocese of Pueblo and of all the Americas."

It is providential that these annual events occur in proximity to Labor Day, which signals the beginning of the fall and the school year. It is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the blessings of labor and the many people who have worked in some way to bring faith, families and communities together into what is now Colorado. This is a time to recognize their desire to build lives and families through work and service to others, be it through the mining, agricultural, medical, hospitality industries, and encompassing all that serves us today.

Pope St John Paul II, in his encyclical Rerum Novarum, emphasized the dignity of labor, the right and need to dignified work, that the dignity of all labor is the personal dignity of each one of us. We discover our identity, importantly, in our work, however humble. Jesus himself was a laborer, and in proclaiming a Gospel of Love, he proclaimed a “Gospel of Work.” The care of our brothers and sisters must be appreciated as the crucial element of any culture or ideal, and the only true manifestation of the Gospel of Love.

"We discover our identity, importantly, in our work, however humble. Jesus himself was a laborer, and in proclaiming a Gospel of Love, he proclaimed a 'Gospel of Work.'"

In gratitude to all those who labor, and in our desire to support them, we remember that we live under the intercession of Our Lady through The Little Way of St Therese. This is a Fiesta of Labor, the work of love. We bring the Gospel of Jesus to life through our prayer, support, and the blessing of our labor. May this new school year bring success to teachers, students, and all workers. More importantly, in faith, we look to Jesus as he looks to us: the harvest may be plenty….the laborers may be few….. and we need to engage. From our celebrations may we be ever more generous as we grow in our discipleship to the mission of Jesus, the Fiesta of God’s Love.

+Most Reverend Stephen J. Berg

Bishop of Pueblo

If you found this article helpful, you'll enjoy "The Living Garden" E-News" & "The Little Way" magazine!

The Living Garden: a bi-weekly email to your inbox the 1st and 15th of the month.

The Little Way magazine: a quarterly publication delivered to your home.

To subscribe: scroll to the bottom of this page and click on "Subscribe to The Living Garden" and "Subscribe to The Little Way". Subscribing is easy and FREE!