Devoted to San Lorenzo: A binational celebration of the patron saint of the poor

Ciudad Juárez celebrated its annual San Lorenzo Festival in honor of the city's patron saint with dance, music, food and prayer.

Hundreds of faithful Catholics and community members visited San Lorenzo Catholic Church just south of the Rio Grande. The iconic church, with its beautiful twin spires, is located in the historic neighborhood that carries the saint's name.

The two-day festival included Apache dancers from different regions of Mexico and the United States. The performers were dressed in traditional attire, including elaborate head dresses from the Apache traditions.

A woman was cleansed using Mexican copal incense by a medicine woman. A long line of festival-goers waited for their opportunity to be cleansed with the sacred smoke of copal.

Dancers performed to music played using traditional instruments.

It was the first time attending the ceremony for some Juárez natives, like Sahari Cassiano, 33, who is not a practicing Catholic, at the celebration on Aug. 10, which marks the feast day of San Lorenzo, who died a martyr in Rome on Aug. 10, 258 A.D.

"I felt happiness seeing people’s devotion (to San Lorenzo)," Cassiano said. "People experience difficulties in their lives — with health issues — and you see people pleading (with San Lorenzo) and you see happiness in them."

San Lorenzo is revered in the city because he is the patron saint of the poor. Across the border, a similar feast day was celebrated in Clint, Texas.

The festivals were celebrated with Masses in both cities. They banged on drums and danced as they entered the San Lorenzo Church. Many of the faithful paused in prayer to show gratitude for miracles they experienced in their lives and in honor of San Lorenzo.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Devoted to San Lorenzo: A binational celebration of the patron saint of the poor