Visitation: Santa Natividad in McKinney
Bishop Rob Price confirmed one and received three during visitation Sunday at Santa Natividad in McKinney. The Rev. Noe Mendez is the vicar is originally from Oaxaca as some of the congregants. Other parishioners are from throughout Central America and South America including Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru. The result is a worship service that brings a rich tradition of inculturation blending deep-rooted indigenous heritage, beauty, artistry, hospitality and musicality with spiritual devotion.
The Santa Natividad worship service is like no other in the diocese. It's in Spanish, including Bishop Price's homily, but with the soul-stirring, multi-sensory vibe of a multiculturally rich parish. On Sunday, the incense filled the space making the church visually hazy and soft, bringing the aroma of spice, wood and sweetness to the air. The procession offered liturgical dancers in white dresses, lacy mantillas, and silk ribbons fluttering through the smokey air. The worship service was a beautiful, emotional celebration of our Lord. "The congregation at our church is made up of brothers and sisters from across the Americas," Mendez said. "Each of them plays a part in our worship through hymns and liturgy. Our hymns feature diverse rhythms—from South America, such as the "Gloria" from the "Misa Criolla," to rhythms from the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. This diversity results in worship filled with joy, faith, and gladness, all for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Additionally, the church is filled with the most warm and friendly folks around. Their hospitality is gloriously extreme - they love you when you walk in the door, and their joy is a ministry in itself. Contagious, emotional, spiritual and all good things. They are a tight community who know and love each other well, but with genuine smiles and arms wide open to newcomers.
Mendez raises leaders in this church and almost everyone is in charge of something, or two somethings. For new members joining the church, serving is the best way to get plugged in, meet people and become part of the community, parishioner Maritza Almazan said. She began at the church six years ago when she had a sick child. She and her husband, Abraham Ramos, and their four children drive to Santa Natividad twice a week from their home in Commerce, an hour drive one-way. Once they started attending the children got involved in the acolyte corps which inspired their parents to lend a hand as well. Almazan sings in the choir and runs social media for the parish. Ramos operates the tech including the livestream of the service where he electronically strings cell phones and tablets throughout the church to get different angles for the recording of the service live for YouTube. He also worships during the service and can be seen on his knees in his tech corner in the back of the church during Holy Eucharist prayers.
Raising leaders in the church is about their education and formation, Mendez said. "Christian education is the fundamental basis for people's spiritual growth. Sunday school for all ages, Bible study, and Vacation Bible School have resulted in the emergence of servant-leaders in our church who are willing to serve in the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why, in our church—during our worship services and throughout the life of the congregation, we have servants of all ages active in every ministry."
After the service the reception was a visual, culinary and musical explosion of their continued joy. The potluck spread was glorious and included tacos, pork, empanadas, pasta, shrimp, deserts and fresh fruits. The church hired a Oaxaca band that played energetic music with most people taking a turn on the dance floor including Bishop Price. This multi-cultural parish is an inspiration. The Diocese feels your love Santa Natividad, and we love you back. Los queremos mucho.