Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood witnessed a vibrant display of cultural unity and faith on Sunday, as local Catholics stepped out in a procession to celebrate Three Kings Day, a tradition venerating the biblical magi's visit to baby Jesus. The procession, complete with paper crowns and winter gear, marked a festive start to the holiday, which is officially commemorated today. Participants started their walk from St. Ferdinand Church along Belmont Avenue, joined by men on horseback costumed as the three wise men from the Nativity story, reported the Chicago Sun-Times.
The sentiment of unity was pronounced at the St. Ferdinand Church mass that began the day's events, where readings were done in multiple languages reflecting the diverse parish community that includes Polish, Latino, and Filipino members, during the event, Pastor Peter Gnoinski highlighted the "united nations at St. Ferdinand parish," which served a striking example of Chicago's multicultural fabric. Despite the bone-chilling temperatures which everyone was trying to stave off with layers and hand warmers, joy and song were king and queen in this procession, with Kamila Wilczek-Drath from the Polish Folklore Ensemble telling ABC 7 Chicago, "Hopefully that'll warm us up."
The celebration holds particular significance for many, including parishioner Gosia Rula, who has attended for over a decade, and views the procession as a way to honor the wise men's journey and enrich her faith. Another attendee, Virgie Laspinas, shared with the Chicago Sun-Times, how the multilingual Mass allowed for the celebration of the parish community's diverse backgrounds, saying, "We appreciate being recognized as Filipino, as Latin American, and as a part of this community and this church."
This annual Three Kings Day celebration not only served as a religious observance but also as a beacon of togetherness within the city's various ethnic communities, as Father Piotr Gnoinski of St. Ferdinand Church emphasized unity through diversity, telling ABC 7 Chicago, "We here in the United States come from all corners of the world and as you see today we have Latino and Filipino and Polish communities united in the same faith and same cause." With the parade making its way to St. Ladislaus Church, less than a mile from where it began, the event drew hundreds of locals.
