(WNY News Now) – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hosts two bilingual celebrations in December, fostering unity and sharing Latin American traditions through music and community.

Jamestown, NY – As the holiday season approaches, much music has been made about “peace on earth” and “goodwill to men.” This December, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is hosting two bilingual (English-Spanish) events – creating opportunities to experience much-needed peace and goodwill among people, through music and celebration. These events, to be held on December 13th and 14th, are designed to celebrate and share the rich traditions of Latin American culture and music:

Las Posadas Celebration – Friday, December 13th at 6:30 PM

Las Posadas (Spanish for “the Inns”) is a traditional Latin American observance that reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph as they seek shelter before the birth of Jesus. The event features a procession, prayers, and music as participants accompany Mary and Joseph through a symbolic search for lodging. The commemoration culminates in a joyful celebration with food, music, and a piñata, embodying the spirit of hospitality and community. Attendees should dress warm and gather at St. Luke’s at 6:30 pm for an outdoor procession with songs and prayers (weather permitting) – to be followed by food and festivities indoors.

Latin American Worship Music Workshop – Saturday, December 14th at 1:00 PM

The following day, St. Luke’s will host a Latin American Worship Music Workshop in the chapel at 1:00 PM. This interactive session will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about and experience sacred music from Latin American traditions. The workshop is open to all, regardless of musical or Spanish language proficiency, and is designed to create a welcoming space for learning and community engagement through music.
Both events will be led by the Rev. Yuriria (Yuri) Rodríguez, a native Costa Rican priest, singer, artist, and educator.

“The focus of my work is to use music to accompany diverse communities in their faith journeys, affirming their identities, and celebrating the presence of God in all cultures,” Rodríguez says. She has over 20 years of experience performing and conducting choirs of sacred and Latin American music in the United States. Currently, she is serving as a priest at the Church of the Nativity in Lawrence, Indiana. Rodríguez adds, “I am passionate about bridging the spaces between cultures, languages, and food—whether it’s the liminal spaces between English and Spanish, Latino and US cultures, or tacos and BBQ.”

St. Luke’s is hosting these events in partnership with the New Neighbors Coalition, a local grassroots organization committed to welcoming immigrants to Jamestown. Both events are free and open to the public.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located at 410 North Main Street, Jamestown, NY. For questions or more information, call the church office at 716-483-6405 or email st.lukes@stlukesjamestown.org.