December 31, 2023

Our Lady of the Hills sets up Nativity visible from Route 9

REGIONAL
Staff report

(iObserve photo/courtesy Steve Calderone)

HAYDENVILLE – Parishioners at Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Haydenville set up a third Nativity for the parish in the church parking lot, which is visible from Route 9. The Nativity was set up to mark the 800^th anniversary of the very first Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, where St. Francis of Assisi reenacted Christ’s birth with townspeople and friars.

“St. Francis did the first reenactment to ‘cultivate’ the faith.’ When folks drive down Route 9 and see this display, they can’t help but think about the real meaning of Christmas,” said parishioner and music ministry director, Steve Calderone.

Calderone said eight parishioners assembled the outdoor display, with the approval of the parish council. The display was a surprise for the parish administrator, Father John Gawienowski, and the rest of the parishioners as well. The wise men  cast shadows which are 8 ft., 11 ft., and 14 ft. high.

“This set was designed to be recognized within 2 seconds, from 100 feet away, at 40 mph, on Route 9 East. It met that goal,” he said.

Parishioner Russell Laroche, owner of Accufab Iron Works in Goshen, constructed the wise men and donated them to the church.

(IObserve photo/Courtesy Steve Calderone)

“His crew cut it out of aluminum and had it powder coated. His crew also built the chassis which holds it all together, and then delivered it to the church,” said Calderone.

The inspiration behind the idea came from his late sister, Lisa Marie Calderone Stewart, a faith formation director for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and author of two dozen books ministering to teenagers and published by St. Mary’s Press.

 “She had brought this upcoming 800th anniversary event to the forefront. While she never lived to see the event, she is probably smiling in heaven now,” he said.

The church also has two more Nativity scenes, one inside and another one outside the church.