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San Felipe de Neri wrapped up the 320th annual weekend of fiestas earlier this month, but the church community says they鈥檙e just getting started.

鈥淲e hope that people will remember that San Felipe is here, for your spiritual needs, for your social needs, we鈥檝e been here for 320 years and we hope to continue the tradition for another 320,鈥� said Diane Lopez Chavez, the entertainment and publicity coordinator for the fiestas.

Overlooking Old Town plaza, San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church was founded at the center of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 in 1706, 70 years before America鈥檚 founding. Every year the church community gathers for fiestas to celebrate its patron saint.

鈥淲e鈥檙e celebrating through music, through liturgy and through sacred traditions of dance, processions and an outdoor celebration on the feast of Corpus Christi,鈥� said Deacon Dan Sanchez. 鈥淥ur intention is to build community and to invite the greater sa国际传媒官网网页入口 area.鈥�

The fiestas ran for three days, June 5 -June 7. Celebrations were centered around Old Town plaza, with live bands performing from the gazebo. Families gathered on the plaza to enjoy the music, dance and support the local vendors who encircled the square.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 really see this a lot, so this is a really special moment, especially with this being the 320th year for the fiestas,鈥� said Selica Tafoya, who was named Queen of the Fiestas.

The roles of queen and king of the fiestas were elected through the parish community with the hope of increasing the younger generation鈥檚 involvement.

鈥淚n society nowadays the youth don鈥檛 really feel accepted, mainly because the church is more adult focused,鈥� Tafoya said. 鈥淢y role in the fiestas is to encourage the youth to be more involved in the church.鈥�

Apart from the bands, the fiestas also included special events such as a cake walk, car show, raffle, Matachines dancers and a chancla throwing contest. Coordinators of the fiestas say these activities showcase the fun, community-centered spirit that the fiestas stem from.

鈥淚t鈥檚 families who鈥檝e been here and celebrated for generations,鈥� Chavez said. 鈥淭his is our church and this is our community, and we want this to go on.鈥�

Organizers hope the event garners some attention for the church but also that the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 community sees the fiestas as a time to get together and celebrate their culture and heritage.

鈥淚 hope that even for a brief while we can remember that we鈥檙e part of something bigger than just ourselves, to live in closer union with one another, and to help to promote peace amongst ourselves and in our communities,鈥� Sanchez said.