Live nativity in East Naples shares the story of Christmas
Thaddeus Mast
Visitors flocked around a Mary, Joseph and a baby inside a handmade manger at an East Naples Catholic church Sunday.
“Does anyone want a photo with baby Jesus?” a tour guide asked.
A little girl, egged on by her grandparents, smiled next to the baby.
Volunteers portrayed the biblical figures to tell the story of Christmas to hundreds of people at St. Agnes Catholic Church this weekend.
“The nativity began 10 years ago.” Deacon Roberto Landron said. “The whole idea is not just about celebrating the birth of Christ but teaching people the real meaning of Christmas.”
Thousands of people have viewed the depiction of Christmas for 10 years. Every year, the event gets larger as dozens of volunteers work to expand the event.
Jose Rodriguez is a church member and carpenter who first helped eight years ago at the request of an organizer. The manger, a full building with wooden walls, a straw roof and an accompanying animal pen, was his contribution.
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“In the beginning, I had to build it and dismantle it from scratch every year,” Rodriguez said via translator. “We put it on a trailer three years ago and can bring it here without stripping it down.”
Rodriguez said he was thankful for being a part of the important nativity. This year, he was dressed as a wise man for the tours.
“I’m just a backup,” he said with a laugh.
The full tour ends with the manger. After a brief video, guests are guided to a time-appropriate hut where Mary is told of Jesus’ arrival. The other scenes include Roman soldiers, a group of peasants and a children’s choir dressed as angels singing “Silent Night.”
Guests are then free to wander shops in a recreation of Bethlehem streets.
“It was the best nativity show I’ve ever seen,” said Claude Beaudoin, a winter resident from Canada. “We need to go to one every year for church.”
St. Agnes churchgoers and volunteer Dan Muro cooked the lamb and chicken needed for the hungry visitors.
“This brings more authentication to the event,” Muro said.
The cooks went through 80 pounds of chicken and five legs of lamb just Saturday night. Sunday would have three times as many visitors.
About 60 percent of the people walking through the live nativity are newcomers to St. Agnes, Landron said.
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“I’m always surprised and eager to see new people coming,” he said.
But the nativity isn’t set up for only a fun show, Landron said.
“We want people to leave this place remembering that and going out into the world and doing good, which we very well need.”
Naples Daily News reporter Andrew Atkins contributed to this story.