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Display showcases creativity, innovation
THE NATIVITY
The display will be Sunday and Dec. 11 and feature entertainment and dinners
Display showcases creativity, innovation
Nativity display at Villa Maria showcases creativity and innovation
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VILLA MARIA, PA.
What will mesmerize and intrigue visitors to the nativity display at Villa Maria Community Center is the creativity in design and innovative use of materials.
The nativity sets range from the abstract to traditional, the simple to ornate and the humble to expensive.
They’re crafted from paper, glass, ceramic, clay, metal, wood, resin, stone and plant material including banana leaves, a coconut and pine cones. Colors are from clear, to white, pastels, earth tones and bold colors.
Displays will be Sunday and Dec. 11.
What they have in common is that they celebrate the miracle and wonder of the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, whose coming changed the world. No matter what the interpretation is, it is recognized as a nativity.
Sister Maryann Golonka is coordinator of the project that first took place in 2006. She was administrator at Villa Maria at the time and it occurred to her a display of the many nativities that the sisters had would be nice. When Sister Susan Schorsten, then pastoral leader, returned from a retreat, she shared an experience of seeing such a display. The two shared a vision of a nativity display.
Last year, the display was on hiatus but many inquiries about it demonstrated its popularity. “We’ve added features such as entertainment and dinner and shopping at the Villa Farm and shop,” Sister Maryann said.
“I think people appreciate it because the focus is on what Christmas is all about,” she said. “People learn about other cultures and how people interpret one event. It’s interesting to see how people have used materials on hand.”
Sister Maryann said the display also gives people a chance “to experience their faith.”
Assisting are Kathleen Perry, administrative assistant, and Kylene Kamensky, communications specialist.
Kamensky said the preparation began in mid-November with the setup intensifying this week. Perry said nativities were unpacked from 10 storage trunks. These are nativity sets from Sisters of the Humility of Mary, whose motherhouse is Villa Maria Community Center.
Other nativity sets are from community residents who wanted to participate in the event. Those are grouped in one section of the exhibition room.
Perry said she hasn’t done a final count yet, but estimated more than 200 nativities will be showcased. About 25 of them belong to Sister Maryann. They include one with unique egg-shaped figures in a stable that Sister Maryann fashioned from egg cartons and a set with figures in pastel colors she acquired from a bakery in New Castle, Pa.
The nativities range from teeny-tiny to a large three-piece set of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus that will welcome visitors. After the display, that set will go into the chapel, where the sisters use it for Christmas. A Peruvian set only 1 º inches high includes the Holy Family, a donkey and cow. There also is a tiny pewter set blessed by Pope Benedict from Gerrie DiMatteo, a Villa Maria resident. A soapstone carving inside a manger, a colorful clay set in a teacup shape with figures inside and manger scene in a seed pod also are quite small.
One of the most unusual is a mother-of-pearl nativity carved from a shell from the Red Sea. The late Sister Veronica Ternovacz donated it to the display. Another one-of-a-kind set was made from volcanic ash.
Sister Therese Pavilonis contributed what she described as a “cherished family nativity” circa 1929-34 from Germany. It shows traditional figures in a barn-like setting.
Perry pointed out a papier mache set made by an Ohio prison female inmate. No tools were used to craft the set made in 2012 that has Three Kings with camels, Holy Family, donkey, sheep and cow.
An intricate set from Ecuador was made from mazpan (bread dough). A clay set with red-garbed figures is from Bangladesh. A vibrantly colored Polish creche and figures from Cynthia Foust of Youngstown also are displayed.