Día de los Reyes Magos with the Farmworkers and Knights of Columbus

Courtesy of Joseph P Hill, John Cardinal Newman Council 9445

The Knights of Columbus hosted a special Mass, followed by dinner at the Cardinal Newman Hall this past Saturday (January 7) to thank farmworkers (campesinos) in the Fresno area for doing the hard work to bring food to our tables. These workers and their families were treated to a bilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Brennan and Father Byron. After Mass there was dinner catered by Pardini’s, a guitar trio, lively Baile Folklorico (traditional Mexican dances), singing á la the late, great Vicente Fernández, gift certificates and toys for the children. The keynote speaker at the dinner was Fresno State President, Jiménez-Sandoval, who shared his farmworker roots and role and how that education plays in opening opportunities for the campesino youth.

The celebration was inspired by the work of Father Albert Vasquez, friend of Fathers Byron and Paul (and fellow Claretion priest), who for decades has ministered to the needs of farmworkers in the Fresno area. Thanks go out to Knights of Columbus councils from southern California for assisting in fundraising for the event, and Knights on Bikes California for bringing their fine-looking motorcycles for the families to see and enjoy. A special thanks to our own Linda Ram and her staff, parishioner Tom Kane, and Newman Council 9445 and Master Don Gentleman (St. Helens Church) Council 11335 for coordinating this event and providing the Knights in costume who did their best impression of the Three Kings.