Three Congregations Gather for Back to School Picnic

On Sunday, July 27, St. James Hendersonville and St. Paul’s Edneyville joined forces with the clergy and members of La Capilla de Santa Maria in Hendersonville for the annual Back-to-School picnic on the grounds of La Capilla. The event—planned and coordinated by the three churches—featured fun-for-all activities, food and fellowship under sunny skies with members from each church in attendance.

The Rev. Miguel Alvarez of La Capilla thanked St. James and St. Paul’s for their “tremendous support and willingness to remain united as one Church.” Following a meal of traditional tamales and taquitos (as well as pizza, popsicles and watermelon), both children and adults engaged in playing water balloon toss, cornhole, and Drip, Drip, Drop, as well as a kids’ Bible Quiz and a piñata. A dramatic tug-of-war between kids and adults—during which the center of the rope broke—resulted in most participants being flung to the ground, including Father Miguel, The Rev. Kevin Todd of St. Paul’s, The Rev. Thomas Buechele, retired (a member at St. Philip’s Episcopal in Brevard), and other adults; thankfully everyone escaped injury.

The relationship between the three churches stretches back many years to the formation of La Capilla, when in 1993 the first services in Spanish took place after St. James offered the 1950’s-era stone building of St. Mary’s church for use by the Hispanic community. In 1997, St. James acquired a 99-year lease on the building and in 2008 the Friends of La Capilla was formed with the intention of conducting religious and community outreach activities for the Hispanic population that also included regular activities between the three congregations.

As a back-to-school event, 27 youth members of La Capilla, from elementary to rising college students, were acknowledged and received gift cards to purchase school supplies. Each student introduced themselves and said what grade and school they attend, and older students told the crowd what they’re studying or would like to study in college. Father Miguel, Father Kevin and Father Tom then each offered a blessing for the students, with words of encouragement for the year ahead.