Texas Border Business
The late Bishop Emeritus Raymundo Peña left in his will that his nativity scene collection would be donated to the Museum of South Texas History. Currently, the museum is exhibiting this collection until Jan. 9, 2022.
Celebrating the holiday spirit at MOSTHistory
EDINBURG, Texas — The Museum of South Texas History’s celebration of Fiesta de Nochebuena emerged as a point of intersections on Dec. 12, 2021. History, culture, religion, family and community all intersected on this day at the museum.
The date for the event could not have been more symbolic. On this very day in 1531 in colonial Mexico, Juan Diego claimed to have seen the apparition of the Virgin Mary, so there’s interesting symmetry there.
Fiesta de Nochebuena celebrated culture through the expression and consumption of rich foods, such as tamales and aguas frescas, music as performed by Mariachi Oro of Edinburg North High School, and a piñata was broken. It was endless fun.
On a more reflective note, the museum featured a spotlight exhibit of some 75 nativity scenes donated by the late Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brownsville, the venerable Raymundo Peña.
Bishop Peña was devoted to his nativity scenes, and through the years observers gifted the bishop with new nativity scenes that were added to his collection. When Bishop Peña died in September 2021, he left in his will the gift of 75 nativity scenes to the Museum of South Texas History.
When 88-year-old Daria Martínez Ramírez walked into the museum to celebrate Fiesta de Nochebuena with her daughter Alicia Cardoza, she was immediately drawn to the nativity scenes. And she had good reasons to do so.
“I knew Bishop Peña since the 1970s,” she said. “I got to know him through the years, and I knew about these nativity scenes.”
Though she misses Bishop Peña, Martínez Ramírez expressed her love for both the bishop and for the gift he left behind.
The bishop’s motto was to “do everything with love.” On Dec. 12, Fiesta de Nochebuena was graced by the love of Dalia Martínez Ramírez, and by the gift of Bishop Raymundo Peña.
May all love each other this holiday season. Happy Holidays from the Museum of South Texas History!
Bishop Emeritus Raymundo Peña Nativity Scene Collection will be on exhibit until Jan. 9, 2022, which is included in the regular museum admission fee. MOSTHistory is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. However, it is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Visit mosthistory.org/events for the latest information.
