Scene & Herd: Spanish mass and repurposed trash
A party was had at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church on Sunday after the noon Spanish-language mass let out. Why? Well, it was the 45th anniversary of the first Spanish mass delivered by Father Isidore Garcia on Sept. 20, 1981, said Abraham Solar, a longtime parishioner and faith leader for Spanish-speaking congregants.
With the introduction of such a service, local Spanish speakers now had a place to worship in their language, “instead of gathering in the ranches around Petaluma, because at that time, many of the parishioners worked at dairies milking cows,” Solar said.
After Sunday’s mass, which was led by Father Mauricio Rodriguez, upwards of 400 people joined the celebration. Traditional Mexican folk dancers from Paquiyollotzin, Ballet Folklorico of Petaluma danced in the church’s plaza, before churchgoers joined in a large community meal. The potluck included carnitas (pork), nopales (cactus), chicken tinga, “and lots of desserts” – flan, chocolate flan, fruit, and then some, Solar said.
Correction 9/28/26 at 10:10 a.m.: The name of the priest who presided over the mass was changed.
The Petaluma Arts Center's latest exhibit, "It's Not Trash: Reclaiming and Transforming," opened on Friday, Sept. 17, and runs until Oct. 24, 2026. Artists created work from reclaimed materials. The exhibition is a community partnership with the Recology San Francisco Artist-in-Residence Program, Petaluma's Reuse Alliance, and the Recology Artstart Student Hub (TRASH), led by Recology Sonoma-Marin. Photos by Jim Johnson.
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