The Old Mission San Juan Bautista parish has canceled the annual Mission Fiesta event, which had been scheduled for late June.
According to an announcement released Sunday:
In a stirring change of emphasis, the regular San Juan Bautista Mission’s annual fiesta, originally scheduled to be held on June 28, 2015, has been cancelled this year in favor of a more parish-oriented event. The Fiesta Committee voted to reduce the emphasis from a grand public spectacular to focus on a more intimate parish family get together to honor St. John the Baptist, the patron of the Mission.
The new program will consist of a special Mass for celebrating Saint John the Baptist at 10 a.m. followed by light refreshments in the historic Olive Grove adjacent to the Mission including coffee, chocolate, donuts and Mexican pastries from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Music in the background will allow parishioners to meet each other and socialize. There will also be a 50/50 drawing for which tickets are available.
A critical factor in the committee’s decision to “downsize” the event was the loss of key committee members due to family needs, moved away or health issues and the lack of volunteers to succeed them. It appears the Fiesta work-force is the victim of a growing national trend, the decline in volunteering. The Fiesta Committee hopes to evaluate the success of the “downsized” event and determine whether it will continue as the annual event or whether volunteers will step up to the plate and commit to a return to the annual Fiesta of the past.
The Fiesta Committee meets again on Thursday, May 21 at the parish offices on Second Street. Interested persons and others who might like to get involved are invited to attend. For more information please call co-chairs David and Diana Bruce at (408) 500-8353.
