Lions Club hosts Magi visit at OLPH

Neither the threat of rain nor the cold stopped the Magi from arriving in Sunset Park to bring joy and gifts to hundreds of children during the annual Three Kings Day celebration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Organized by the Sunset Park chapter of the Lions Club, the event was held on Jan. 10.

Outside, the gray and chilly January day contrasted with the spirit inside the auditorium as kids jumped, played, and ran around while waiting to get their hands on gifts donated by various local organizations.

While kids were busy playing, attendees spoke about the importance of these events for the community and the significance of maintaining this tradition for the new generation.

“The Lions have this tradition because we always want children to remember their culture,” said Cynthia Felix-Jeffers, president of the Sunset Park chapter of the Lions Club. “And one of the most cherished traditions we have is celebrating los días de los Tres Reyes Magos.”

The Lions Club is a service-based organization founded in 1917 that encourages its members to serve their communities. The Sunset Park Lions Club has been commemorating Three Kings Day for more than 30 years.

The event is celebrated on January 6 in many countries, but it is mainly associated with Latin American culture. In various countries, before going to bed, children leave food and drinks for the traveling kings and their camels and wake up to find gifts.

According to Christian tradition, the day commemorates when three kings traveled to Bethlehem to give baby Jesus tributes of myrrh, frankincense, and gold, each respectively representing Jesus’ redemption for humanity, his divine nature, and his status as royalty.

A tradition to be shared

Isiroda Silva traveled from Marine Park to be part of the event. Originally from Corozal, Puerto Rico, but living in New York City since 1950, the 93-year-old reminisced about seeing parades decades ago to commemorate the festivities.

“It is important for the kids and for future parents, so they know about this tradition,” said Ms. Silva.

The word tradition was present among many parents at the event, who attended the celebration wanting to instill the Three Kings Day tradition in their children.

“I’m Hispanic, but I don’t really celebrate Three Kings a whole lot,” said Anais, who came with her husband and children. “So I just thought this would be a good way to expose him to it.”

Anais, originally from the Dominican Republic, and her husband Roman — for whom the festivity was not part of his Ukrainian heritage — were not too concerned about the gifts, as the day has acquired a significance that goes beyond the original tradition.

“It’s about how much you should appreciate people who love you and who you love,” Roman said. “And you know how important it is to be together, meet new people, make new friends, and learn.”

Roman and Anais bring their child, Eli, to the Lions Club Three Kings Day celebration. Photo by Leonardo March

Finding community

District 43 Council Member Susan Zhuang, one of the sponsors of the event, said that this type of event provides a place where “people can get together, communicate with each other, and find help through the type of nonprofit organizations” attending the event.

This sentiment was echoed by various parents, who attended the event to get something for their kids, but also for the sense of community.

“We come here and feel the support from the church and from the community,” said Pamela Sifuentes, who attended the event with her daughter Thiana.

Community through service

The event, while a celebration of a Latin American tradition, also provided the opportunity for many to get informed about various local issues. This was the case for 29-year-old Sunset Park resident Tania Dominguez, who found that there were “a lot of helpful resource tables giving out information I didn’t know about.”

The tabling event, which provided community services, aligns with the Lions Club’s ethos of serving their communities. Sponsors hosting information tables spoke about the importance of providing this type of service to the neighborhood.

“Each organization provides different services,” said Qua Liang, president and founder of United Cultural Association, a Sunset Park community group whose mission is to help improve the community and the well-being of its members. “If we all combine together, then we can provide more services to the community and everybody can have a better life.”

By the end of the day, the rain arrived, the kids went home with new toys, and parents had the opportunity to build community and get informed about what was going on in Sunset Park.

“It is an important day of family and an important day of service, which are all themes of the Lions Club’s mission to serve the community,” said District 38 Council Member Alexa Avilés. “So this has just been a great event to bring families together, to love each other, and to provide resources.”

District 38 Council Member Alexa Avilés addresses the crowd about building community during the celebration on Jan. 10. Photo by Leonardo March