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Curate Carlos Enrique Medina Garibaldo presides over the Palm Sunday procession in San Cristóbal Zapotitlán. Photo: María Reynozo.

By: María del Refugio Reynozo Medina

The women sweeping the square and the atrium of the temple of San Cristobal Zapotitlán announce the proximity of a celebration: the solemn mass of Palm Sunday.

A row of palm trunks are placed at the entrance of the temple, forming a path to reach the church. At the end, they carry a palm embedded in the center that rises towards the sky.

About a hundred parishioners participate walking led by the acolyte children. Photo: María Reynozo.

Two women sweep the scene, while in the square others pick up the garbage with the first rays of the sun shortly after eight in the morning.

Today, in addition to the Palm Sunday celebration, the 2022 recall election is taking place.

Chamomile and rosemary perfume the streets as the procession passes by. Photo: María Reynozo.

Around 11:30 a.m., parishioners congregate on Zaragoza Street in San Cristobal, near the crossroads. They carry bouquets of rosemary and chamomile. Some women carry babies in their arms; others in strollers.

A group of six people, four women and two men, carry light green braided palms, and two of them hold a bible in their hands as they advance in the procession.

Children accompanying their parents participate in the procession. Photo: María Reynozo.

A group of men in bright robes characterize the apostles, while a young man in the role of Jesus Christ walks dressed in a white tunic and a red cloak. Cura Carlos Enrique Medina Garibaldo leads the procession that advances amidst chants and the aroma of copal.

The atmosphere smells of rosemary, basil and chamomile.

A group of men represent the apostles with their bright tunics. Photo: María Reynozo.

At the end of the celebration, people congregate in the plaza and many treat themselves to carnitas tacos, steak tacos or a slice of flan.

Meanwhile, in the premises a few meters from the elementary school, the ballot boxes are set up to carry out the recall referendum promoted by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).

The polls opened at 8:00 a.m. and a few minutes later; however, at 8:30 a couple of the first voters appeared alone.

In the elementary school, the urns look lonely. Photo: María Reynozo.

Two polling places are installed; from section 1668 and 1687. Each polling place has a president, a secretary and a teller.

The  arrival  of voters is slow; and out of a voter roll of about three thousand, only 275 voters are present and the majority decision is for the incumbent president to remain.

This is how the announced recall process goes; between the bells that call to mass and the ballot boxes that call to vote where the fragrant rosemary bouquets exceeded by dozens the participation of the citizens.

Joel Salvador – Chapala.  Torres Arrayga , who will portray  Jesus in the Stations of the Cross and Passion of Christ Chapala 2022, next to Father Juan Manuel. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel.- Joel Salvador Torres Arrayga, originally from Chapala, was always devout and, although his work took him away from the ecclesiastical groups for a few years, he returned this year, to represent Christ during the Stations of the Cross and Passion of Christ Chapala 2022.

The 25-year-old was familiar with the Church throughout his life. Coming from a Catholic family, as a child he was an  acolyte or altar boy in the parish of San Francisco de Asis.  Years later, in his adolescence he was part of the Seminarians in Family (SemFam) group coordinated from the same parish, and during his high school years he was a member of the Salesian Missionary Group of Chapala.

This year, due to his long and curly hair, he was invited by the ‘Bola’ and Jesús Chávez to be part of the new group that re-enacts the Stations of the Cross and Passion of Christ in the municipal capital. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

The commemoration of Palm Sunday began with the traditional route from the Malecon (boardwalk) to the church of San Juan Cosalá. Photo: Alma Serrano.

Alma Serrano(San Juan Cosalá).- Catholics packed the atrium of the San Juan Bautista church in San Juan Cosalá to commemorate Palm Sunday at the beginning of Holy Week. The celebration began shortly before 8:00 a.m., when the faithful gathered on Del Cardenal Sur Street, next to where the Malecon (boardwalk) begins, to bless the palms. 

Afterward, the procession began the journey to the church, emulating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem and his confirmation as the son of God. Palm branches, prayers, faith, and emotion were the essence of the celebration in the community. 

Approximately 400 people crowded the atrium of the Parish of San Juan Bautista. Photo: Alma Serrano.

This sacred act brought together around 400 people, who joined together to bid farewell to Lent and begin Holy Week, which lasts until Sunday, April 17, a time dedicated to remembering the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

«These are not holidays, they are holy days, we need to meet again with the one who lost his dignity and take up our lives in the best way, let’s do the best with our lives because we only have one here on earth», said during the sermon the priest Ramón Ramírez López. 

Also present at the ceremony, on both sides of the altar, were representatives of the 12 apostles. During the Eucharist, more than 70 people received communion, including children, young people, adults, and senior citizens, most of whom took appropriate sanitation measures.

Translated by Nita Rudy

 Alma Serrano(San Juan Cosalá).- The tradition of the Altars of Sorrows is still present in San Juan Cosalá. Last Friday, April 8, some altars dedicated to the Virgin of Sorrows, also known as «Incendios de Dolores», were placed on Iturbide Street, as a symbol of the suffering of the Virgin Mary for her son Jesus.

On the beach at the end of Francisco Villa Street, some tarps can already be seen. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles . – This year, the residents of Francisco Villa Street have the permission of the delegation to carry out their traditional camping on the shore of the lake during Easter Week, from Thursday, April 14 to Sunday, April 17. 

Acting Ajijic delegate Maximiano Macías Arceo said campers came to ask for permission, which was granted, although with some restrictions. For example, tents and tarps can be put up at the end of Francisco Villa Street and the beach of La Crucita.

In addition, the hours for listening to music will be limited. Although he did not mention an exact time, he said he does not want any problems with the neighbors who live near those beaches.

“It is not just for campers, but also any private home or business where they are exceeding the limit of both sound and hours,” Macías Arceo said. “If they do exceed the limits, public security will visit them to maintain order.”

Another topic he mentioned was the garbage generated. He asked for the cooperation of campers to keep the beaches as clean as possible. He said campers must remove their tents or palm leaf huts when their visit is over. 

“On Easter Monday, April 18, they should no longer be there,” Macías Arceo said. “We trust they will be responsible and follow the restrictions.»

The tradition of camping on the shores of the lake during Holy Week began in 1992. Families go to the beach, set up their tents and stay on Holy Days – Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – to spend time with their neighbors.

Translated by Mike Rogers

Papel picado with figures, chains and papel picado in strips can be seen in Colón street. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- To welcome visitors during Holy Week, personnel from the Ajijic delegation placed sheets of papel picado in different shapes and colors along Colón Street and on the kiosk in the main square, as well as on the streets for the Passion of Christ.

Since the beginning of last week, on Colón Street, different types of papel picado have been hung from  roof edge to roof edge, along the stretch from Hidalgo Street, by the main square, to the boardwalk.

Acting Ajijic delegate Maximiano Macias Arceo commented that this initiative was applauded by people who have businesses on the road, but that it will only last for Holy Week, since they will be removed the following week, with the exception of the papel picado decorations in the plaza. 

Although the kiosk already has papel picado or cutout paper, it will be replaced in the next few days for the festivities. Photo: Sofía Medeles

«We were told that it is a bad idea to put paper and that it would be better to use plastic composure, because of its durability, but we wanted to follow traditions, and the tradition of Ajijic is to use paper. It will only last this week, but the one that will be placed in the plaza, if we want to leave it for a long time, and change it to be in accordance with the upcoming festivities,» he shared.

In addition, Macías Arceo said  that the pedestrian walkway will be maintained from Thursday to Sunday and the beach in front of the Old Posada will be used as a parking lot with a capacity of up to 150 cars. 

Translated by Kerry Watson

Altar a la Virgen Dolorosa at Carlos Esparza Urzúa’s house, Miguel Martínez street, corner with 5 de Mayo.

Staff. – Mounting altars in honor of the Virgen de los Dolores is a tradition that has been waning over time at Lakeside; however, in the municipal capital of Chapala, a group of neighbors from the neighborhood of La Purísima, led by Carlos Ernesto Esparza Urzúa, keep the flame alive. 

For 15 years now, Esparza Urzúa has been motivating his neighbors to make the altars. When it’s time to organize, «I ask and I tell them to do, and if they don’t want to do it, I’ll do it,» he exclaimed. With few or many members, he continues with the customs that his mother instilled in him. 

In spite of the fact that other years the tradition was celebrated «in a big way,» with personifications of girls dressed in black and much more cooperation from neighbors from other streets, the participation was reduced during the pandemic.  

This year, Esparza Urzua set up the main altar inside his house, on Miguel Martinez Street. The neighbors on 5 de Mayo Street supported him with three more. The group of ten people prayed a rosary at each altar and then, in accord with the tradition, asked, «Has the Virgin already cried?» In response, they received a glass of water, which represents the tears of the Virgin.

Carlos has kept images of the Virgin of Dolores for three generations, placed in the center of the altar, accompanied by a metal cross. His mother taught him to add a ladder representing the moment when Jesus returns to heaven, in addition to placing nails and hammer to represent objects used during the crucifixion.

The dice also symbolize the soldiers fighting for his tunic; the rooster that crowed when Peter, the apostle, denied Jesus three times; and white doves that represent peace. 

Carlos Estrada Urzúa uses in his altar the colors purple and blue as a symbol of mourning, and regional plants such as clam, chamomile, birdseed and clover, the latter representing the Trinity. 

In previous years the altars were kept up all night. However, security is no longer the same and things are stolen, said one of the neighbors, and as a result they dismantle their altars between 10:00 and midnight.

Finally, Carlos’ neighbors, who have grown as a family, will support him in setting up the Tended Christ outside his house, starting at 8:00 p.m. until the end of the March of Silence on April 15, Good Friday. 

Translated by Sandy Britton

Cast of the Passion of Christ in the atrium of the parish of St. Francis of Assisi, which this year will have 60 interpreters, plus staff to assist them. The main roles are those of Jesus, Mary, Herod, Pontius Pilate, Judas, and the Priests of the Sanhedrin. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel.- After two years of not appearing due to the pandemic, the cast of the Chapala 2022 Stations of the Cross made its first public appearance with the re-enactment of the «Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem», in the parish of San Francisco de Asís, in the municipal capital of Chapala. 

The cast of Viacrucis Chapala 2022, was presented for the first time during ‘The Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem’, in the parish of St. Francis of Assisi on Palm Sunday. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

About 300 people attended the 1:30 pm mass on Palm Sunday to bless their palm branches during the Eucharist, where Joel Salvador Torres Arrayga, 25 years old, stood out in the role of Jesus.

Sixty people form the cast that accompanies Jesus Christ throughout the representation of the trial and his journey to the crucifixion. Joel Salvador played Jesus, Athziri Guadalupe Martínez Real was the Virgin Mary, José Roberto Michel Mendoza was Pontius Pilate and in the role of Herod, Ramiro Moreno López.

The palm branches to be blessed during Palm Sunday, mostly made of wax palm and wheat, were accompanied by laurel and rosemary. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jesús Alfonso Basulto Anaya participated as Judas, while Carlos Aguayo Ramírez and Jorge Alfonso Villegas López were the priests of the Sanhedrin. The play will be presented on Good Friday, April 15, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the parish atrium. 

Parishioner during Palm Sunday service Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The Palm Sunday celebration took place in all the masses starting at 7:00 am in the neighborhoods of Guadalupe, Tepehua, Lourdes and La Purisima, plus the parish of San Francisco de Asis, in whose precincts they were able to gather from 100 to 300 people per mass, according to one of the collaborators of the parish temple.

Outside the parish church of San Francisco de Asís, six stands from Michoacán were set up selling bouquets made of wax palms and wheat. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

During the mass at 12:00 and 1:30 in the afternoon, in the parish of St. Francis of Asis there were more than three hundred parishioners present. 

Cast of Roman soldiers

Hundreds of palm branches, accompanied by laurel and rosemary were raised to receive God’s blessing from the priests in charge of the Eucharistic celebration, highlighting the presence of children and young people who alone or in the company of their families attended the ceremony. There were also about six stalls with wax or wheat palms made by people from Michoacán. 

Parishioner receiving the Eucharist during Palm Sunday

The type of palm is irrelevant, its spiritual meaning is based on a symbol of peace with which Jesus was received in Jerusalem. Today, the palms are blessed on Palm Sunday and placed on the altar throughout the year, then burned by the church to use their ashes during the next year’s Ash Wednesday.

Translated by Nita Rudy

The approximately 14 restaurants that make up the area known as Piedra Barrenada expect a large influx of tourists during Easter Week. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- Jocotepec expects a major influx of tourists during Easter Week, with a concomitant increase in economic revenue.  The 14 restaurants of the tourist – gastronomic zone of San Juan Cosalá known as Piedra Barrenada, located in San Juan Cosalá, are preparing for a return to “normal” after a drop of approximately 75 percent in sales during last year’s holiday season.

According to Víctor Manuel Loza Ornelas, director of Tourism and Artisan Promotion, after two years of a complicated panorama in the sector due to the pandemic, this year more than 18,000 visitors are expected during Easter Week. Loza Ornelas stated that the economic revenue expected is approximately 4 million pesos per week (about US$200,000), or 8,000,000 pesos in total during the vacation season (about US$400,000). This is double the 2,000,000 pesos that are normally generated per week. «The economic revenue in a bad season, let’s say, goes above two million pesos, but in this season that amount doubles», he said.

Saulo Rameño Castañeda, manager of the 42-year-old Bar Piedra Barrenada Restaurant, is also optimistic.  «The truth is that the last two years were very complicated. Although we were open last year, we did not take in what we expected. I estimate that there was a 50 percent decrease in sales. However, the outlook for this year is favorable,» he said. The businessman added that during the Holy Days this year, they will open longer hours, from 8 am. to 8 pm.  In this busiest time of the year, they host up to 600 diners per day.

The year that had the greatest impact on the drop in sales was 2020, when health authorities forced businesses to close their doors for a month due to the sanitary contingency.

Translated by Elisabeth Shields

The Palm Sunday route in 2019 went through village streets. Photo: La Tradición de Ajijic.

Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- There will be changes to this year’s Holy Week celebrations, including the living representations of the Passion of Christ prior to the Viacrucis, or Way of the Cross.

Jesus will ride a donkey on Palm Sunday as usual, beginning at 6 p.m. at Six Corners. But the route will end in Ajijic’s main square rather than at the parish of San Andrés Apóstol as in the past. The blessing of palms will take place at all Sunday Mass times. 

Celebrations of Maundy Thursday (commemoration of the Last Supper) and Good Friday will be at 7 p.m. on April 14 and 15. A Holy Saturday service will be at 8 p.m. All liturgical services, unlike previous years, will be held inside the church and not in the atrium.

Translated by Mike Rogers