December 31, 2024

Our Lady of Fatima Parish holds living Nativity

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

(IObserve photo/courtesy of Patty Supczak)

LUDLOW – Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Ludlow held a living Nativity, Saturday evening, Dec. 28 outside the church on Winsor Street in Ludlow. The Nativity, complete with animals, followed in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. The parish is staffed by the Conventual Franciscans, Order of the Friars Minor Conventuals, an order founded by St. Francis of Assisi.

“We had a donkey and a calf this year. The animals are brought yearly by Gus Zina. Two parishioners, Vasco Cost and Antonio Henriques built the stalls and the stage for the children in the play,” said Patty Supczak, a longtime parishioner and cantor for the choir.

Dozens of parishioners gathered in the church parking lot holding lighted candles.

“Our CCD children participate and we have a real baby Jesus every year. Members of both choirs show up to sing carols in English and Portuguese,” she added.

The living Nativity began with the choir leading those gathered in the singing of “Silent Night.” This is the third year in a row that Our Lady of Fatima Parish has held the living Nativity. The tradition of children retelling the Nativity story documented in Luke’s Gospel dates back to 1223. St. Francis of Assisi created the first-ever living Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy with townspeople and friars. Since then, living Nativity scenes and pageants have become a Catholic tradition.

“In Greccio, it was similar to Bethlehem,” said Conventual Franciscan Friar Pedro de Olivera, the pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish.

He said the Friars want to share their Franciscan charism not only with parishioners, but also with the wider community of Ludlow.

“He (St. Francis) wanted the warmth and the love of Jesus to transform cold hearts into warm hearts. That’s what we want to do tonight with this Christmas reenactment, that it might rekindle our hearts with love,” he said.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish has a museum beneath the church hall which showcases Nativities from around the world. Following the presentation, parishioners gathered in the hall for hot chocolate and other refreshments.

The Nativity was also streamed live on Our Lady of Fatima’s Facebook page.