Little girls ages 5-8 years old are encouraged to enter the 3rd annual St. Andrew Catholic Church Diez y Seis Celebration Contest. The contest started July 1 and ends Wednesday, Sept. 12.

The contest is a fundraiser for the St. Andrew Catholic Church Parish Hall building fund in Pleasanton. The candidate raising the most money will be declared Queen of the Fiestas Patrias de el Diez y Seis de Septiembre (September 16).

To ensure full participation, it is asked that once you have decided to participate in the contest that you do not withdraw.

The coronation of the queen, princess and duchess will take place during a celebration scheduled for September. There will be a carne guisada dinner, live music with the band Maravia and hopefully some mariachis.

This year’s event will include a drawing for prizes similar to the one held during the picnic.

Each person entering the contest will be responsible for her fundraising efforts. Ideas include garage sales, bake sales, car washes, food plate sales, etc.

All money needs to be submitted by Wednesday, September 12, after the 7 p.m. mass until 9 p.m. at the church library.

Dress for the queen candidates should be long and fullformal attire. The escort will be selected by the participant and parents. The escort can assist with your fundraising efforts. His attire will be formal, either a tuxedo or suit to be agreed upon by all parents.

Those entering the contest do not have to be parishioners of St. Andrew. However, the queen and king will be required to attend church functions including the church picnic, annual turkey dinner, Guadalupana celebration, etc. to be representatives of the Diez y Seis Celebration.

Diez y Seis marks Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810. It commemorates Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s grito de Dolores (cry of Dolores) on September 16, 1810, at the Village of Dolores, near Guanajuato. He called for the end of Spanish rule in Mexico.

Diez y Seis de Septiembre has been celebrated in San Antonio for more than 167 years.

Those with questions on the contest can contact Juana Benitez, Diane Leyva or the church rectory at 830-569- 3356.