by Antonina Zielinska

In honor of its feast day, the mostly Hispanic community of Epiphany Church,  Williamsburg, welcomed the Three Magi during a Mass and fiesta, Jan. 6.

The Three Kings, portrayed by Robinson Roman, Victor Valdez, and Efrain Quiles, processed through the streets accompanied parishioners, servers and Father Manuel de Jesús Rodriguez, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul parish, which includes Epiphany Church.

Father Rodriguez said the outdoors procession was important because it helps parishioners express their faith freely in a neighborhood that is predominantly Jewish Orthodox.

Mother Jesús Doliente, S.S.V.M., said such a public expression is central to the celebration of the Epiphany.

“For us Catholics, Epiphany is the public honor of Jesus as God,” she said. “The Three Kings represent the leaders of the world and they came to worship Jesus. The Epiphany shows us that we are all invited to the Catholic faith.”

The procession finished at the church, where the congregation filed in for a standing-room-only liturgy.

The hymns of a children’s choir greeted worshippers as they entered the church. They sang “We Three Kings” and other carols during the bilingual service.

Mother Jesús and Johanny Espinal lead the choir that usually sings for the family Mass at SS. Peter and Paul church.

“The mission of the choir is to help people pray,” Mother Jesús said. “It brings joy to all the adults. The children bring them hope.”

Espinal said the choir requires a lot of sacrifice as they meet for practice every week, however, she said it is well worth the while.

Her daughter, 12-year-old Jacxenie Espinal, is among the members of the choir.
After Mass, Jacxenie and all the other children received a gift in honor of the Hispanic tradition of gift giving on  Epiphany.

Father Rodriguez said the gifts were donated by the parish community, members of the fire department, and parishioners of St. Mel, Flushing, and Holy Name, Park Slope.

This year Sisters Jean Philip Brady, C.S.J., and Miriam Anna Morgan, C.S.J., followed the example of the Magi and made a pilgrimage back to the parish for which they worked for over four decades. Sister Jean Philip worked as principal of Epiphany school while Sister Miriam Anna worked as a teacher at the school.

With gratitude for their service, the parish presented the two sisters with plaques of appreciation at the end of the Epiphany Mass.

“Epiphany will always be in our hearts,” Sister Jean Philip told the congregation.