Advent to open with live crib scene at OSF Motherhouse
EAST PEORIA – As Advent opens on Sunday, Dec. 1, the OSF motherhouse will once again be the scene of a living reenactment of the first Christmas – with live animals.
It was St. Francis of Assisi who established the tradition of the live Christmas crib scene (or crèche, or Nativity scene) 801 years ago, in 1223.
Last year, Father Don Roszkowski, chaplain, and the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis presented the living tableau on the grounds of their motherhouse in East Peoria for the first time, to mark the 800th anniversary.
God is NOT far from us . . . . That is what brings joy and comfort to our hearts and to our lives.” – Sister Judith Ann Duvall, O.S.F., assistant major superior
As Sister Judith Ann Duvall, O.S.F., assistant major superior says, “St. Francis wanted to wake up the world to the reality that our God has come among us, and as a humble child, to draw us all closer to Him.“
HARK, THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Again this year, Mary and Joseph are portrayed journeying to Bethlehem. An angelic choir (the OSF Choir, consisting of representatives of various OSF entities) will be onsite at the crib scene to sing them home.
Live animals include a donkey, Buckeye, who belongs to one of the nurses who works in the motherhouse infirmary, Renee Humphrey, and her husband Mike. The sheep will be “shepherded” by the children of Aria Hise, who is an occupational therapist at Saint Francis Medical Center.
Pope Francis has reflected that the goal of Christmas crib scenes is to “provoke amazement at the extreme humility of the Lord, at the hardships He suffered, for love of us, in the poor grotto of Bethlehem.”
Pope Francis visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square in 2015. (Catholic News Agency)
Sister Judith Ann adds, “God is not far from us . . . That is what brings joy and comfort to our hearts and to our lives.”
Gaining a sense of just how close He is will be easier on the grounds of the OSF motherhouse in East Peoria on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Following the service (which begins at 1:30 p.m.) all are invited inside for hot chocolate and cookies.
A doll will be used to represent the Baby Jesus. After the reenactment, the manger will remain empty and only the stable with the hay will remain for the rest of Advent.
