The Way We Were: Fiestas, Bazaars, Festivals
By Paul Milan, County Historical Society / Cibola Beacon Contributing Columnist
Published: Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Last week, I noticed a sign announcing the St. Teresa annual “Fiesta and Bazaar” which brought back some pleasant memories. My recollection of this annual event began with the completion of St. Teresa Community Center in 1951. The basement of the center was void of any rooms and served as a roller skating ring and was the perfect place to hold a “fiesta/bazaar”.
After the war, the Franciscan Priests started a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) whose members were from both Grants and San Rafael. When the Community Center was completed, Father Girard changed the CYO to The Grants Teen Club in order to attract non-Catholic Teens since the purpose of the Community Center was to involve all of the Community. All basketball teams were invited to use the gym. The center had a Laguna room and an Acoma room and the community was invited to schedule events, i.e. graduation parties, anniversary parties and fund raisers. As I recall, the St. Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar was the first fund raising event and Ladies from the Altar Society, the St. Teresa Men’s Club, and the Teen Club members all united to establish the St.Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar.
The St. Teresa Fiesta became famous for their “enchilada” dinner and of course the many booths of homemade crafts, cakes and desserts. The Teen Club members had a hotdog stand that became popular with the young and old kids. Father Girard introduced punch board booths with many prizes that kept everybody trying to win the grand prize from each booth, and the grand prize raffle was always a favorite. The punch board booths were later replaced with bingo and auctions, which continue to be popular, and the prizes are always very creative.
The sparkplug of this event from the very beginning was Marianne Moleres. Moleres was a quiet, unassuming individual that dedicated herself not only to the church but she made sure that the Fiesta was correctly done and was always available to lend a helping hand. She always seemed to have the right solution to every problem. Even the priests would answer our questions with “ask Mrs. Moleres, she will know what to do.”
This event not only brought the community together but also gave us pre-teens and teen-agers an opportunity to become acquainted with and work with parish adults that ultimately created lifelong relationships.
We, as teenagers, learned to be on our best behavior because the St. Teresa ladies were like our own mothers watching over us and they would not hesitate to give us that stern motherly look.
This year’s event will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, with Bingo on Saturday, and the Fiesta/Bazaar on Sunday, at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
This year’s grand raffle is in memory of Moleres, who many feel was the Mother of the St. Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar. This is a well earned tribute to the memory of Moleres when you realize that the persons that are honoring her were in her Catechism classes nearly 55 years ago.
When we moved to this area we were happy to discover that San Rafael Church hosted an annual fiesta, and since most of my relatives lived in San Rafael, we attended the Fiesta and got involved when one of our relatives was appointed as the “Mayordomo.” The Mayordomo had the responsibility of putting on the Fiesta.
The Fiesta gave an opportunity to interact with adults, learn to dance, eat some of the best blue corn enchiladas in New Mexico - holding our tears back pretending that the extra hot red chili (chile) was not too hot for us - and, dreaming of winning the grand raffle prize.
When my children and grandchildren ask me “what did you do in the olden days for fun without T.V., Casinos, and I-pads”? My answer is “we would participate all events with our parents and their friends.”
The San Rafael Fiesta, the St. Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar, the Laguna and Acoma Feast Days, the 4th of July Rodeo and Parade, the Cubero Fiesta featuring “Matachines”, the San Mateo Fiesta, the St. Joseph School Bazaar, every dance at the High School Gym, and the dances at the Bluewater Church - we got to know every adult in the area and everybody knew our name. Unfortunately now-a-days, I don’t know anybody’s name under fifty except those that work with me at Grants State Bank.
Editor’s Note: Paul Milan, CCHS Historian, contributes to the Beacon’s history column and is a longtime resident of Cibola County. Milan’s father, Salvador Milan, was the Village of Milan’s first mayor.
By Paul Milan, County Historical Society / Cibola Beacon Contributing Columnist
Published: Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Last week, I noticed a sign announcing the St. Teresa annual “Fiesta and Bazaar” which brought back some pleasant memories. My recollection of this annual event began with the completion of St. Teresa Community Center in 1951. The basement of the center was void of any rooms and served as a roller skating ring and was the perfect place to hold a “fiesta/bazaar”.
After the war, the Franciscan Priests started a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) whose members were from both Grants and San Rafael. When the Community Center was completed, Father Girard changed the CYO to The Grants Teen Club in order to attract non-Catholic Teens since the purpose of the Community Center was to involve all of the Community. All basketball teams were invited to use the gym. The center had a Laguna room and an Acoma room and the community was invited to schedule events, i.e. graduation parties, anniversary parties and fund raisers. As I recall, the St. Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar was the first fund raising event and Ladies from the Altar Society, the St. Teresa Men’s Club, and the Teen Club members all united to establish the St.Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar.
The St. Teresa Fiesta became famous for their “enchilada” dinner and of course the many booths of homemade crafts, cakes and desserts. The Teen Club members had a hotdog stand that became popular with the young and old kids. Father Girard introduced punch board booths with many prizes that kept everybody trying to win the grand prize from each booth, and the grand prize raffle was always a favorite. The punch board booths were later replaced with bingo and auctions, which continue to be popular, and the prizes are always very creative.
The sparkplug of this event from the very beginning was Marianne Moleres. Moleres was a quiet, unassuming individual that dedicated herself not only to the church but she made sure that the Fiesta was correctly done and was always available to lend a helping hand. She always seemed to have the right solution to every problem. Even the priests would answer our questions with “ask Mrs. Moleres, she will know what to do.”
This event not only brought the community together but also gave us pre-teens and teen-agers an opportunity to become acquainted with and work with parish adults that ultimately created lifelong relationships.
We, as teenagers, learned to be on our best behavior because the St. Teresa ladies were like our own mothers watching over us and they would not hesitate to give us that stern motherly look.
This year’s event will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, with Bingo on Saturday, and the Fiesta/Bazaar on Sunday, at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
This year’s grand raffle is in memory of Moleres, who many feel was the Mother of the St. Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar. This is a well earned tribute to the memory of Moleres when you realize that the persons that are honoring her were in her Catechism classes nearly 55 years ago.
When we moved to this area we were happy to discover that San Rafael Church hosted an annual fiesta, and since most of my relatives lived in San Rafael, we attended the Fiesta and got involved when one of our relatives was appointed as the “Mayordomo.” The Mayordomo had the responsibility of putting on the Fiesta.
The Fiesta gave an opportunity to interact with adults, learn to dance, eat some of the best blue corn enchiladas in New Mexico - holding our tears back pretending that the extra hot red chili (chile) was not too hot for us - and, dreaming of winning the grand raffle prize.
When my children and grandchildren ask me “what did you do in the olden days for fun without T.V., Casinos, and I-pads”? My answer is “we would participate all events with our parents and their friends.”
The San Rafael Fiesta, the St. Teresa Fiesta/Bazaar, the Laguna and Acoma Feast Days, the 4th of July Rodeo and Parade, the Cubero Fiesta featuring “Matachines”, the San Mateo Fiesta, the St. Joseph School Bazaar, every dance at the High School Gym, and the dances at the Bluewater Church - we got to know every adult in the area and everybody knew our name. Unfortunately now-a-days, I don’t know anybody’s name under fifty except those that work with me at Grants State Bank.
Editor’s Note: Paul Milan, CCHS Historian, contributes to the Beacon’s history column and is a longtime resident of Cibola County. Milan’s father, Salvador Milan, was the Village of Milan’s first mayor.