Fiesta Theme Shows Heart for Latino Culture

MILWAUKEE - Oct. 16, 2019 - PRLog -- The School Sisters of St. Francis make no secret of taking the side of people who are disenfranchised, whether or not they are Americans. Today, as in recent decades, our sisters and associates have worked with many people in the El Paso, Texas-Juárez, Mexico, border, providing legal and pastoral support to those dealing with missing family members, and with meeting basic survival needs.

In Milwaukee, our sisters and associates make regular visits to detention centers and pray for asylum seekers awaiting word on their status. Because of our community's regard for the courage of Latinos, and our active engagement in their lives, the School Sisters of St. Francis are renaming their annual fiesta, "Una Familia, Un Corazon" (in English, "One Heart, One Family").

This year's event will be held on Saturday, November 16, with a bilingual Mass in the sisters' magnificent historic St. Joseph Chapel at 4 p.m., and a fiesta from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bishop James Schuerman will be the celebrant, and Coro Hispano de Milwaukee, with director Jesus Villanueva, will lead the congregation in song. The fiesta will welcome back Jorge and Cindy Lopez (owners of Lopez Restaurant and Bakery, 1100 W. Historic Mitchell St., Milwaukee), who will be selling mouth-watering Mexican and Puerto Rican delights for dinner and dessert.

Our fiesta serves young and old with free family portraits, Lotería (Mexican-style Bingo) and prizes, as well as face painting for children. The musical ensemble, Son Monarcas of Chicago, will lure visitors to the dance floor with Colombian, Cuban, and Mexican folk/pop/jazz fusion, and also promises a demonstration of Aztec dancing.

Affordable raffle tickets will have attendees vying for a free stay at the fine, family-friendly accommodations of Holiday Inn Express (New Berlin), a blast-to-the past vintage train ride from the East Troy Railroad Museum, coveted tickets to see the talented actors of the Waukesha Civic Theatre, a lovely gift from Flowers by Jan, and much more!

The sisters' seventh annual fiesta will bring the local community and friends farther afield together for worship and wholesome fun in celebration of Latino food, music, and family. All are welcome to "Una Familia, Un Corazon/One Heart, One Family." There is no charge for admission.

Questions? Call Rosaura Solano in Spanish or English at 414-385-5253 or rsolano@sssf.org. St. Joseph Center is located at:  1501 S. Layton Blvd. (S. 27^th St. and Greenfield Ave.), Milwaukee. Free parking at St. Joseph Center lot at 29^th St. and Orchard St. Check us out at http://www.sssf.org.