By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on October 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
Students at St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
Students from St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." In this photo, students dressed in typical Mexican attire welcome Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico.
Students from St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." In this photo, students dressed in typical Mexican attire dance in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show as seen in the photo with students dressed in typical Spanish attire.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show, as seen in this photo with students representing Uruguay and Our Lady of the 33.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show. In this photo, students kneel in prayer before a student representing Our Lady of Altagracia, the patroness of the Dominican Republic.
After prayer and solemnity, the party: St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show as seen in this photo, with students representing the Dominican Republic .
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
Students from St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show. In this photo, students representing Cuba, greet a student representing Our Lady of Charity, the patroness of Cuba.
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas," represented in this photo with two students dressed as different representations of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by students representing different Hispanic and Latin American countries.
Photography: COURTESY
MIAMI| Marilin Cruz has seen first-hand how Latin American countries have an immense devotion to the Virgin Mary.
“It is a devotion that enthuses people,” she said.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show, as seen in this photo with students representing Uruguay and Our Lady of the 33.
Originally from Cuba, and having traveled through Central and South America, she has witnessed feast days dedicated to Mary that bring towns to life through music, food, festivities, Mass and prayer.
As the new music and choir teacher at St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami, Cruz thought why not do the same for the school’s annual Hispanic heritage show?
“People are living such sensitive, difficult times, whether it involves personal loss or illnesses, and economic struggles, that I thought about dedicating this year’s show to Mary,” she said.
The “Mary of the Americas” celebration took place on Oct. 16, 2021 in the school’s cafetorium. This year, in addition to the folkloric and popular dance, song, and poetry showcase performed by students in each class, a Marian focus was added. Countries including Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, and the U.S. were represented, along with their national patronesses.
Principal Carmen Alonso, who is Cuban-born, enjoyed the new addition to the show. “It had everything. The Catholic, Christian part, and then the dancing and partying,” said Alonso.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas." Students not only learned about the different representations of Mary in Hispanic and Latin American countries, but they also incorporated typical dress and dance to the show.
She also enjoyed the pageantry of each Marian representation introduced during the show, accompanying the country of her native devotion.
“I know mine, Our Lady of Charity, Mexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a few others. But I don’t know all of them. So I learned, just like the kids did,” said Alonso.
Preparing for the show, students learned about the different representations of Mary honored around the world.
“I really wanted the kids to understand what we were talking about and what we were doing,” said Cruz. “The most important thing that we need to do as educators, and especially as Catholic educators, is transfer the true joy of our faith. It’s very important to celebrate our Hispanic heritage, but if we add our faith, it makes it even more special.”
Near the end of the “Mary of the Americas” show, guest mezzo-soprano Gracel Dominguez sang to Our Lady of Charity.
“People cried,” said Alonso.
Cruz realizes that people aren’t necessarily Catholic on the island nation, “but they are devoted to Our Lady of Charity. And all Cubans, with the Virgin, can attain freedom.”
The grand finale, where students sang “God Bless America,” also served as a reminder that with God all things are possible, and “everything with the Virgin turns out right,” said Cruz.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
St. Michael the Archangel School in Miami celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual show on Oct. 16, 2021. This year's theme was "Mary of the Americas," represented in this photo with students of different ages dressed as different representations of the Virgin Mary.
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