The star of Bethlehem guides the Three Kings to Utah

Intermountain Catholic

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Francisco and Yahir Barrios gather around the Three Kings during the feast of the Epiphany at the Cathedral Jan. 4. The celebration was organized by the Office of Hispanic Ministry with the help of Una Mano Amiga, a non-profit organization, the Hispanic commission of the diocese, and other businesses and organizations. IC photo by Priscilla Cabral

"The Three Kings are here!" said María Cruz Gray, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry, after Mass during a "phone call" that everyone could hear Jan. 4.

"Did you hear that?" a father asked his daughter. "I did!" she said jumping with joy.

Just as Cruz Gray had said, the Three Wise Men were in the basement of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City with their capes, crowns, and hundreds of presents.

"I had never seen them before," said Francisco Barrios, who received a trailer he really liked.

And this was precisely the purpose: to give children the opportunity to learn about the tradition of the Day of the Three Kings or the feast of the Epiphany.

"In the Hispanic culture, it is the Three Kings who give the presents to the children," said Cruz Gray. "But the children don’t remember it anymore because we have told them about Santa Claus."

Honorio Moreno, president of the Hispanic commission for the Diocese dressed up as Caspar and said that when he was young his father used to walk his horses around the house so Moreno would think their footsteps were those of the Wise Men’s camels.

Unfortunately, traditions like those of Moreno and his family are being lost in this country.

"I decided to do this to help maintain and teach the Christian traditions of our countries of origin," said Marco Antonio Mejía about his reason to dress as Balthasar.

One important element of this feast is the "Rosca de Reyes," or "Three Kings’ Bread," which is a ring of sweet bread with several baby Jesus dolls tucked inside. Those who get a doll inside their piece have to invite everyone to a party on the feast of the Virgin of La Candelaria.

Guillermo Ortega found a baby Jesus inside his piece.

"I liked how this piece looked and now I have to make food for everyone on Feb. 2," said Ortega.

The Three Kings Day party was organized by the Office of Hispanic Ministry and Una Mano Amiga, a non-profit organization. Other organizations and businesses made this event possible with their donations.

Around 250 bags of candy, 400 toys, 200 coloring books and 50 stuffed animals were divided among 700 children, said Rocío Mejía, director of Una Mano Amiga.

Although the adults did not get any presents, they did enjoy the Three Kings’ bread, the hot chocolate, and the music of the diocesan choir.

"The adults had so much fun," said Mejía. Some of them waited for their turn to take a picture with the Three Kings and expressed their thanks.

"It makes it clear we did something beautiful," said Mejía, who already has some ideas for next year.

However, all that fun cannot make us forget the true meaning of the feast.

"Epiphany is the manifestation of God to the Three Kings. It is when God reveals himself through the star that guides them to Bethlehem," said Father Omar Ontiveros, parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

The star represents the faith that guided the kings – who were non-Jewish, but wise – to their encounter with the savior of the world, he said.

Additionally, Fr. Ontiveros asked those who participated in Mass to find their own star to guide them toward the right way and to be stars for others.