In Mexico, the Posada tradition has a young couple dressing up as Mary and Joseph and then spending the days in Advent travelling from house to house asking for a room for the night and telling their hosts about the imminent arrival of Jesus at Christmas. Our modern day ‘Posada’ uses a statue of Mary and Joseph and the donkey instead of a young couple to travel from home to home. The Posada provides an opportunity for hospitality, some time of prayer with others and a sharing of our Christian faith with family and friends. By hosting the statue we can join this simple but effective form of evangelisation.
Rebecca Bretherton, Coordinator of the Commission for Evangelisation said:
“It’s time to get ready for Advent and to prepare for your parish’s Posada Journey. This is a very simple way to help everyone celebrate the Advent season and prepare for Christmas.”
Every parish in East Anglia has a Posada statue. Posters, a handy rota, prayers and and other resources are now available on the Diocesan website’s Evangelisation pages.
Photograph: From left to right – Nicholas, Luc, Luke and Theo with the Posada statue