Leelo en Español

Forget couplings, Valentine’s Day is a community affair in San Antonio, East Oakland. 250 adults and children celebrated the day at St. Anthony’s Parish yesterday. Community and parish members assembled to dance and celebrate the holiday with a generous twist.

Throughout the event, children who opted for a pony ride were walked through seated crowds and a dance floor as church members playfully cajoled their parents and grandparents into the mock wedding booth where they chose fictitious names, donned wedding jackets, and espoused their love in pre-written zippy bursts.

Four groups, including the six-member banda band Los Potrillos of Oakland and Los Atrevidos, a norteno ensemble, entertained attendees free of charge as sixteen vendors enticed with Mexican fare, all to raise funds for St. Anthony’s Catholic School and the parish at large.

“For us, the goal is to make people dance and enjoy themselves in a welcoming environment,” said Jose Pollack, trumpet player for Los Potrillos. “So, though we’re not members of this church, we came to play once invited.”

Flanking the stage during the performance by Los Potrillos, were 11-year-old Ignacio Sanchez and his brother, 14-year-old Saul Sanchez, who expertly wrapped their hands around the long rope and lassoed their way through the band’s near two-hour show.

As the event progressed, whittling down the number of flautas, tacos al pastor, and aguas frescas, attendees chatted with one another and danced to celebratory and exuberant Mexican regional music.

Focused on raising funds for the K-8 school and church programs, members of St. Anthony’s Parish are organizing to strengthen their community by meeting needs identified in last year’s needs assessment. Their community-party style fundraisers echo parish member’s traditions.  The next fundraiser will be in June, followed by their largest fundraiser, held the first Sunday in October.