September 25, 2009
A very special blessing leads to a couple’s commitment — to dance
Sylvia and Jorge Macklis dance at the Guad-alupe celebration in December 2008. Click for a larger version.
Editor’s note: The following article was submitted by Judi Russell from Nativity Church, Evansville.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe last year was a very special time for parishioners Sylvia and Jorge Macklis. Nativity Parish celebrated the Dec. 12 Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a procession led by the Matachines (dancers) and a reciting of the Rosary prior to Mass.
Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger presided at the Mass which was bilingual. Following the Mass, dinner was served in the cafeteria. During dinner Christina Rosario told the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady. There were additional dance presentations by the Matachines, Jorge and Sylvia Macklis, and the Hispanic Folk Dance Group.
Following the entertainment, Sylvia and Jorge received a special blessing from the bishop. They had lost a child earlier when Sylvia had a miscarriage, and they hoped for an an-other pregnancy. Shortly afterward they found that Sylvia was again pregnant!
Praying for a happier outcome, they promised Our Lady of Guada-lupe that this year they would honor her with a special dance, “La Danza del Venado.”
La Danza del Venado” (The Dance of the Deer) has been danced on the shores of the Pacific since ancient times. The Yaqui Indians ho-nor the deer as the center of their religious culture. The dance is a symbol of their respect for the deer’s endurance of spirit, as depicted through the deer’s struggle against pursuing hunt-ers. The complicated dance will require many hours of preparation.
On Sept. 8, the feast day of the Nativity of Mary, Christian Andre Macklis was born. This beautiful little boy is truly a special blessing. And as soon as his mother has recovered enough, she and Jorge will begin preparing “La Danza del Venado” for this year’s celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. The feast day will always be very special to them.