Fiesta Latina 2009

You might recall that at least twice a year we're in or around New Albany's St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, scene of one of Southern IN's few Latino Catholic ministries. In the spring we're there for mass with first communion for many of Stephanie's students. In the fall we're there for the Fiesta Latina - sometimes with Stephanie's colleagues and sometimes with our own church members. A year ago Saturday by days of the week Vincent had run away from home hours earlier and so he was not there. Stephanie has started having students not only graduate - by leaving intensive English as a new language instruction - but also going onto middle school. Above is a favorite student of Stephanie - Maria - who's done both. She's no longer in intensive ENL instruction, and she's in middle school now (she was in Stephanie's first class of students at Mt. Tabor elementary). Below is a 5th grade student whose work I'm told is improving. We like Benji - all the more so when he's doing his homework. He gave us some food suggestions. The scene was slightly different from usual - more tables - less space for dancing, maybe cooler weather, no Father Thomas in charge (instead he was taking pictures)- but lots of people and lots of food to choose from as usual - and good dancing!



Father Tom (below) - the priest to the ministry (and a parallel ministry in Louisville) - was still there of course - just not MC-ing.



Stephanie had gone out with her colleagues the night before - to Fourth Street Live - and none of them appeared - maybe still sleeping - but her principal and most of her family (more than usual were there) (not great picture). Susie hinted that she might have liked to have gone the previous evening.

Stephanie talked with another former student, Karen (below). She talked with some younger kids too (and a few parents).

Pictured below is one of the good dances - this one with little kids. Stephanie saw none of her students among any of the dancers.

Maria and her familiy - including her Mom - were selling fruit, corn, and tamales. We tried some of these. We tried to buy things we want and things most of her students' families were selling - although we missed some. The authentic Mexican tacos (very different from Taco Bell) were good. We checked in briefly twice with the extended family of Saul, who we visited after the May 2009 first communion. Below was the woman who helped persuade me to drink tequila back in May who sold me some sweet tamales and some pistachio pudding. I was a little shy about talking in Spanish with these folks we had talked with at great length in their houses in May.

Below was soem of the extended family - including Susanna, our hostess in May - and the playground where one of Susie's daughters eventually played with Benji.

These are two of the dancers we saw dancing - informally, with others - to the music of the Mexican band at World Fest last weekend.

The four-person dancing group danced as we left. Alas, we didn't get to talk with Susanna and Saul or see any of Stephanie's colleagues but Susie or see Stephanie's former colleague Annabell - here or at World Fest - with her husband and their new baby. Maybe next time.

-- Perry