St Patrick’s Cathedral came alive with faith joy and celebration as it hosted a live enactment of the Nativity story titled “Our Saviour is Born.” Directed and narrated by the Neocatechumenal Communities of St Patrick’s Cathedral and various parishes of Pune, the event beautifully depicted the story of creation and the Nativity, from the annunciation to the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger.
The evening was skill-fully hosted by Hyacinth D’Costa, whose warm and engaging compering added to the charm of the occasion. The picturesque cathedral backdrop, combined with heartfelt performances, created a memorable experience for the large crowd of parishioners and visitors who gathered to celebrate.
The event was graced by the esteemed clergy, including Fr Collin Hendricks – Rector, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Fr Peter Colaco, Fr Simon D’Souza, Fr Jason Chettiar, Fr Johns Varghese, Fr Roshan Furtado and Fr Rohan Gawdy.
The live crib showcased real animals, including camels, and featured a real baby in the manger, bringing the sacred story to life. The evening concluded with Fr Johns Varghese shared a heartfelt message of peace, goodwill, and the true essence of Christmas: love, hope, and togetherness.
Jessica Pereira, a 22-year-old member of St Patrick’s Cathedral, says “The live crib is a wonderful idea for attracting a great crowd to come and see what Christmas is actually all about. Many of our non-Christian friends and colleagues wonder what the hype around Christmas is, and why it’s so important! Because our society is busy commercialising Christmas with Santa and parties. The Neocatechumenal communities take this initiative every year to prepare a live crib, fully enacting the real story of Christmas — the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
With real camels and a real baby, the entire story is enacted beautifully. The live crib helps us Christians grow more in faith, reminding us that 2,000 years ago, the birth of our God actually occurred. God chose to become man, to humble Himself and to redeem us from sin. Apart from the live crib, we also have the passion enactment every year at St Patrick’s Cathedral, completing the story of Christmas. The real reason for the birth of our Lord is that He came to save us all. God desires that all His children no matter where they’re born may come to Him and open themselves to God, to experience true joy, peace and love, which is the main message of Christmas.”
In Pune Camp, the St Paul Book Centre offered a variety of cribs for sale, catering to different styles and budgets. Shaji Mathew, the 53-year-old manager says, “This year at the store, we have several cribs ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 18,500, depending on the size and design. Due to high demand, we’ve stocked only fiber statues, avoiding sand or POP statues. As compared with last year, sales have been strong, with a 60% increase so far, which is a great sign.”
He added that many customers request customised or themed cribs, and “we also receive large orders from parishes. All our materials, including the statues, are imported from London and China — none are made in India.”
Meanwhile, at Our Lady Consoler of the Afflicted Church (OLCA) in Pimpri, the Youth President Stiven Swami, 27, says “This Christmas season, our parish is embracing a snow theme to bring a festive and serene ambiance. We are using glass statues for the nativity scene and preparing a simple and neat crib to depict the birth of Jesus Christ.
Despite the modern era, we are preserving the traditional hay crib culture by incorporating natural elements like plants and growing seeds. Traditional cribs represent the humble beginnings of Jesus’ life, emphasising the message of hope and love that Christmas signifies. They are also a wonderful way to teach children about the story of Christmas and its significance.”
Swami also adds, “The difference between traditional and modern cribs is quite distinct. Traditional hay cribs are rustic, made from wood, and designed to hold hay for animals, reflecting agricultural heritage. On the other hand, modern cribs are more decorative, crafted from materials like plastic or glass, and focus on the nativity scene with visually appealing figures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and others.”
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