![](https://www.saw-newcastle.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Posada-webpage-image-1024x506.jpg)
In Mexico there is a Christmas tradition (called Posada) that takes place through December, where figures of Mary and Joseph are passed around the community ‘travelling’ from home to home and business to business. It commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, remembering they couldn’t find a place to stay and were eventually forced to seek shelter in a stable, where Jesus was born. We are all aware of the many people in our world today seeking a place of refuge and this tradition allows us to reflect on that and how we respond this Christmas, as we remember Mary and Joseph’s journey made on the first Christmas. We are inviting Shieldfield to share with SAW in this tradition with our Mary and Joseph figures, travelling around the community organisations.
Our Mary and Joseph are a hand carved Mary and Joseph from Botswana. They’ve already had a journey to get to Shieldfield! Each Shieldfield organisation will take some photos of them visiting in their home/business and we will upload them here and on our socials in order to share the journey with everyone.
You can also look out for them around Shieldfield between 1-23 December 2022.
30 November 2022 // Mary and Joseph getting ready for their journey around Shieldfield with the SAW team
Mary and Joseph helping our newest recruit with an assignment. Mary and Joseph enjoying A Community of Objects Mary and Joseph sheltering from the torrential downpour Mary and Joseph assessing whether swimming is an option when you’re heavily pregnant
1 December // Mary and Joseph travel to the Garage Cafe
Our friendly Garage barista Rory gave them a very warm welcome… …they enjoyed some well brewed coffee… …and bathing in the golden morning light… …it was also a good chance to get their transportation fixed with the spanner wreath.
3 December // Mary and Joseph travel to the Forum Cafe
The cafe looked so warm and welcoming…
…Jill took good care of them as they enjoyed a cuppa and a biscuit for only £1 in the cafe. They helped solve the crossword of the day and had a good chat with everyone who came in.
4 December // Mary and Joseph travel to Christ Church
They were welcomed into Christ Church and enjoyed spending some time praying and reflecting at the Communion table.
8 December // Mary and Joseph travel with Caring Hands
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10 December // Mary and Joseph travel with Gail
Mary and Joseph stopped off for a spot of lunch and hot tea… ..then they visited a church members’ house for home communion… …and spent some time praying… …then they enjoyed caroling with the Salvation Army in Wallsend… …and in the evening they celebrated by eating a Christmas dinner with the Newcastle Street Pastors… …crackers were a whole new thing to understand!
11 December // Mary and Joseph travel to Tigist’s family home
Mary and Joseph enjoyed a morning devotion… …and then dug into some homemade breakfast of fried bread.
13 December // Mary and Joseph travel to the SAW Christmas party
![](https://www.saw-newcastle.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MJTheo-768x1024.jpeg)
14 December // Mary and Joseph travel to Shieldfield Pharmacy
![](https://www.saw-newcastle.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_08921-768x1024.jpg)
15 December // Mary and Joseph travel to Newbridge Project
Mary and Joseph spent some good time reading at the Newbidge Project library. Maya, the new bookshop and reading room coordinator at Newbridge introduced them to the many publications and books on offer.
16-18 December // Mary and Joseph travel with Tim
Mary and Joseph met a rather large moggy on their travels today… …and visited a dazzling Christmas tree… …before thinking about what their son might do and the friends he would make.
Please email enquiries@saw-newcastle.org for further information and to get involved.