How to celebrate your patron saint!

My wife and I are currently in the pueblo of Jinotepe in the state of Carazo in Nicargua. As it turns out, this little town has what´s called "El Tope," which literally means, "The Encounter." Jinotepe´s patron saint is St. Antony of Padua and every year another nearby town brings their patron saint - via procession -  into Jinotepe and the two saints meet, or "encounter" one another. Needless to say, this is much cause for celebration, so much so that the following day is officially a holiday! This year, Jinotepe was visited by the town of San Marco`s patron saint which is St. Mark, the Evangelist.

In keeping with their native tradition, the participants of "El Tope" dress in their folklore wear as they enter into the Church:

Meanwhile inside the church, the Mass is almost finishing. This Mass is the literal "tope" of the two saints but, it is afterwards, when they both come out of the church, that the "tope" of both saints is actuallized to the faithful:

The saints are then both lead out of the town and into another nearby town - via procession by the faithful -  to encounter a third patron saint of a third town! This year, that third town was the pueblo of Diriahamba whose patron saint is St. Sebestian.

The most amazing thing about this is the fact that the faithful walk miles with their saints, all the while singing hymms, chanting prayers to the Most Holy Trinity, reciting the rosary, praising Jesus and giving thanks to God almighty. I really enjoyed this experience since this is almost non-existant in the U.S.. I´ve never, in my 7 years as a Catholic, seen nor have been part of a procession of this magnitude. It´s really a sad fact but, after witnessing the lay faithful rekindle their Catholic faith in such a beautiful and colorful manner, I´m thinking about perhaps petitioning my parish to do the same; acts like these is what being a Catholic is all about, we shoulc exude and display our faith with pride, honor and reverence.

Lastly, the most particular part of "El Tope" is the fact that there is a HUGE party when the patron saint is returned to Jinotepe! You see, when towns celebrate their patron saints the preceeding Sunday is a special day where the saint is returned back to the town after their "topes." Don´t ever let anyone tell you that Catholics don´t know how to party!