Five Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption parishioners built a life-size nativity scene commemorating San Francisco’s patron, St. Francis of Assisi, who created the first nativity scene 800 years ago in a small grotto near a village called Greccio.
“The nativity scene is a good way for all Christians to visualize their faith and to show both children and adults that through the image of the nativity, we can remember that Jesus is at the center of our lives,” said Lucy Michel, Cathedral parishioner who organized the 12-foot-high nativity scene effort.
Michel was joined by other faithful parishioners who contributed their creativity and skills to the construction project, including Salvador Gonzáles, Rosario Morales, Alejandra Ayala, and Jorge Garfias.
“We are open to give freely in the same way that God has given freely to us,“ said Michel, who is also the wife of Deacon Juan Michel, who helps head the Cathedral’s Hispanic Ministry. “We are grateful and happy to help and serve the Lord.”
The idea for building a nativity scene on the creche’s 800th anniversary came from both Father Kevin Kennedy, pastor and rector of the Cathedral, and Father Jerald Geronimo, parochial vicar.
“As the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, it was only fitting that we commemorate our patron, St. Francis, and the creche’s 800th anniversary through this incredible endeavor of love for the Christ child,” said Geronimo. “Imitating the words of St. Francis’ first biographer Thomas of Celano, ‘out of San Francisco, is made a new Bethlehem.’”
From the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Nice story, thankyou…on another note…is the rector of a cathedral also the pastor? Thought the pastor of a cathedral was the bishop, or in this case the Abp. Is it different in archdioceses as opposed to dioceses?
https://smcsf.org/parish/the-parish-staff/
You’re right, the bishop (or archbishop) is the pastor. That said, practically, a rector functions like a pastor.
The Cathedral Rector is the Pastor– the two titles are the same. The Bishop/Archbishop oversees the Diocese/Archdiocese– different job.
Wiki page on rector if really interested
Yeah, um… like… every Catholic home has been doing this for decades. This is news?
As noted, it’s the 800th anniversary of this tradition. That’s something to commemorate and celebrate. I don’t think you or I will be remembered 800 years from now.
Another contribution of Saint Francis that spread to the entire Church. Adoration and Stations of the Cross are two other devotions that this great rebuilder of the Church made for all of the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, they’re so common now, many forget their Franciscan origins.
Pax et bonum.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/how-did-the-stations-of-the-cross-begin-1155
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/history-of-eucharistic-adoration-development-of-doctrine-in-the-catholic-church-4086
Father, I didn’t know that members of the Church Suffering or Church Triumphant could post here.
Thank you for your service when you were here and now.
There’s another afterlife option you left out. Think about it. But a funny rejoinder, nevertheless.
If Fr. Hardon went to the smoking section, I don’t think the internet works there.
On second thought, a lot on the internet does seem to come from there.
Good point.
I remember as a child one of the shopping center parking lots has a live nativity with real live animals. They did not have a baby in it though.