Creche Herald -VY (SS >OV 3V]L 6^U VY *VSSLJ[ *YLJOLZ Vol. 20, No. 1
The Newsletter of the Christmas Nativity
Spring 2016
ON THE COVER: The grand entrance to the nativity made by the sanitation workers of Rome in Italy.
From the Editor: Think spring! Hopefully most of us will be experiencing at least a few signs of it upon the receipt of this issue. This time around we are going to be “trash” talking. Hopefully the one time we ever will be. Let me explain. We have an article about the sanitation workers of Rome ongoing creche display. And while in Italy, let’s go to Naples and learn from a master how presepes are made. Some of our readers wondered and wanted to know more about the santon village we featured on our cover and centerfold in our fall edition. This time we feature a piece with a look behind the scenes of its construction. Last but not least, we have our Houston look back in print and pictures of our Lone Star convention in Texas in Oct 2015 along with a condensed version of a talk on how to care and store our sets. My thanks to Ellen Mintz for her notes and Peter Diemer for his pictures to make this possible. Thanks as well to our other contributors, Judy Davis, Michele Devitt and Marguerite Sullivan. Just a quick reminder to all that this publication is now the official newsletter of Friends of the Creche so please forward all creche related materials so that you may want to share with your fellow readers. Mike
A VIRTUAL TOUR OF
Il Presepe Dei Netturbini (Sanitation workers of Rome manger) By Judy Davis
One of my favorite projects on behalf of Friends of the Creche is the researching and writing of “A Guide to Permanent Nativity Displays in the United States and Around the World.” I find that all of the entries are interesting, but every now and again, I am drawn to a special one, wanting to know more about it and perhaps even plan a future visit to the site. This article is about one of those. It is Il Presepe dei Netturbini (The Sanitation Workers Manger Scene) located in Rome. Perhaps I was struck by the name, wondering why the sanitation workers/street cleaners had built a crib. As it turns out, though, in Italy many guilds traditionally make their own nativities for Christmas display. The Netturbini presepe, however, is open year round. The presepe opened in 1972, built by sanitation workers in one of the company’s storage areas on a side street not far from St. Peter’s Basilica. It was formed as a grotto, holding the stable scene and a few houses. Today it has grown to some 100 houses, many wired to simulate the light of fireplaces and lamps. There are over 160 feet of winding cobblestone streets and four rivers of flowing water, crossed by seven bridges and feeding two aqueducts. There are more than seven hundred figures of people and animals. The crib in which the Christ Child lies is made from the tips of the brooms used by Rome’s street sweepers. Initially there was talk of charging a fee for those who came to visit, but then it was decided that each person or group should be asked to bring a rock or a stone from their home area. To date more than two thousand rocks, representing more than three hundred different places, surround the grotto. The presepe has had some very special visitors. John Paul II viewed the display twenty-four times during his 1978-2005 Pontificate. Pope Benedict XVI made several visits, calling it “the best known Crib in Rome.” Mother Teresa stopped by when she travelled to Rome from Calcutta. The Mayor of Rome and various Italian politicians visit every year.
Creche Herald
is the newsletter of Friends of the Creche (a 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation)
Published by and for its members. Editor: Michael Whalen Founding Creche Herald Editor: Rita Bocher Graphic Designer: James Brack Comments, submissions to: 19640 Driftwood Dr. Clinton Twp., MI 48038 crecheguy@att.net
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From across the United States, Canada and even Holland, they came to the Lone Star state to celebrate the creche. Colored pins indicated state/country.
Creche Herald
One of Rome’s sanitation workers helps with photo.
Students tour the trashmans’ nativity.
So in the course of my research, I learned a great deal about this presepe, but we had no plans to travel to Italy so that I could view it. Instead, a few years ago, when friends spent a sabbatical period in Italy, I suggested that during the holiday season before they returned home, they might enjoy visiting the Presepe dei Netturbini. Reading their comments and viewing their pictures were a good second best to a personal visit. I received a long email and several photos after their visit. “Judy – we only wish you could have been there with us! What a riot…” We got off at the San Pietro train station and walked over to where we thought it (the presepe) should be. Somehow I was thinking it would be an outdoor display. Even with the street number, we were unable to locate it, so we asked at a little polizia kiosk and they looked at us as if we were crazy. We walked up the street a few blocks, thinking maybe we were off a cento in street numbers and on our way back realized that we were on the “porta di” street, but saw the correct street name and turned. Number five was actually the sanitation department and we walked back into the courtyard (with molto macchina! A lot of machinery!) to an entrance where they directed us through the corridor to a community room that was very pedestrian but…. There was a group of school kids barely two feet tall with nuns not much taller just milling around. It was not a large space, so it seemed like chaos to us, but….there was the nativity. It was amazing and all the sanitation workers were soooo proud of it. It was beyond just nice and we were so grateful for your suggestion. Spring 2016
Close up of cave within sanitation workers creche.
While we were there, a little boy in a white jacket was attempting to climb up into the crib – and then someone asked one of the workers to take a photo, so he climbed up into the crib with the camera and complied. I enjoyed my “virtual visit” with the help of my friends and I even have my name in the guest book, with their help. “17/12/2012. Grazie per un ispirazione vera! – e per la nostra amica Judy Davis – Antonio Rossmann and Kathryn Burns, Berkeley Cal USA” Presepe dei Netturbini Via dei Cavalleggeri, 5, Rome Open: mid-Dec-30 Jan, 8 am to 8 pm. Rest of year 9-7, Sundays 8-11:30. Photos courtesy of Antonio Rossmann and Kathryn Burns
Creche Herald subscription information
Membership in Friends of the Creche includes subscription to the Creche Herald. Published four times yearly. To become a member please send check payable to Friends of the Creche $35 for USA addresses or $40 in US dollars (addresses outside USA) Mail to: F OTC Membership/Marilynn Gillespie 7564 South 2020 East South Weber, UT 84405-9641 USA Be sure to include name, address, telephone number and email address. 3
“No” Dust in the Stable By Ellen Mintz Condensed from a presentation at the Lone Star convention.
As a retired librarian, not a professional archivist, I would like to share some hints for the safe storage, repair and cataloguing of our nativity collections. As owner of various creche collections, we are given the responsibility for their safekeeping for future generations to enjoy. To begin, know your limits, for Speaker, Ellen Mintz those one of a kind heirloom type on storing and pieces, ask for help knowing that preserving creche collections. might run up to ninety dollars an hour. We all have watched Antiques Roadshow on which an overzealous cleaner has removed some patina. My family experienced this, namely a della Robbia piece that lost beauty and value due to over cleaning. With the advent of computers and Excel programs, it has become much easier to catalogue our sets, listing name, country of origin, year and for what amount purchased, number of piece in the set and some notes regarding its unusual character. We can even attach a picture to the file along with the case or box number where the set can be easily found. This sure beats three by five cards taped to uncatalogued boxes. And while speaking of boxes, let’s leave cardboard boxes where they belong as a temporary means of moving things, never long term storage not only because of their instability but due to content can do long term damage. When possible always use boxes and crates made from the non-degradable plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Generally speaking Hefty, Sterilite and Rubbermaid plastic storage bins are made from these stable plastics and suitable for long term use. Many of these may or may not make an airtight seal and often keeping our sets at a common temperature and humidity are key to keeping them in their original state. One would hope that the place selected for storage is a space with limited sun, dampness and certainly no vermin exposure. If one must rely on a public type storage facility, be wary what lies on the other side of that wall. Another advantage of these containers is their ability to be stacked. Some have lips that allow one to sit on the other so no danger of top heavy tip overs. In addition, within the crate itself, it is crucial to stop heavier items from bearing down on any lighter ones below it. Creating shelves within a crate is crucial and using Coroplast® polymer corrugated plastic is the best means to do this. Now that we have catalogued, chosen a place and method of storage, what is best for wrapping our treasures that will not damage them over time? Remember that they 4
spend more time in storage than out so please give them a good home. In regards to wrapping individual pieces there is no substitute for archival tissue, uncolored and pH neutral. This is not that easy to obtain and you may need to hit the net to find suppliers. Even dry cleaners these days don’t use it. Once you are wrapped, bubble wrap is a great invention provided it is non colored to wrap around the item in tissue. Always bubble side out to avoid leaving an impression in the piece especially in a painting. Never ever use newspaper or newsprint, Styrofoam (sheets, beads or peanuts) or foam rubber. Before storing or even just to clean pieces that stay out all year, dust should be removed. Small make up brushes, a little bellow or even a small vacuum designed for electronics does the job very well. I am not a fan of air cans because of what is used to propel the air and the high risk of the pressure on delicate pieces. Now comes the unpleasant task of finding broken contents when things are unpacked and we all have that this happen even to the most experienced packer. Never ever, use public enemy number one of repair, the glue gun. Though efficient, cheap and quick, the long term effects are bad. Try while you catalogue to list what material a piece is made. This will help a lot in trying to determine how to make the best repair. For small repairs, nothing works better than Elmer’s school glue. It works best when there are multiples breaks, to work from the smallest piece back, such as a finger to wrist to elbow etc. Most adhesives dry invisibly if they leak out of the repair. Do try and use less though and always hold the mend and allow time for the repair to set rather than worry about immediate clean up. For paint touch ups, acrylic paints are plastic and permanent so very good. Another suggestion is to use the small bottles of Testor’s model paints. They dry out quickly so only buy small amounts. The maintenance and preservation of a creche collection is truly “in your hands.” IN THE NEWS: Max and Joyce Douglas were featured in Manchester University’s, Creating a Legacy, November, 2015 publication in recognition of their bequest of their creche collection. It said, “Inspired by the foundation Manchester help them build, Joyce and Max share their love of art and different cultures with the students of Manchester. For more than a decade, they have shared with Manchester University their collections of creches which are displayed in rotation every Christmas. Not only have they generously donated their artwork, but contribute annually to maintain the creches.”
Creche Herald
Creating the Provençal Village By Michele Devitt
The pictures of the University of Dayton’s Marian Library Provençal Village in the recent issue of Creche Herald tell part of the story. However, the best part of the story is unseen; it is about the volunteers who collectively spent hundreds of hours bringing the village to life. Sixteen dedicated volunteers under master engineer, Mike Foley created various parts of the scene. Fr. Johann Roten and Mike (a former waterworks engineer) decided which scenes and buildings would be made to best display the 7-9 inch Santons. Mike designed the buildings to resemble those in the Provence region of France. After sketching his ideas, he made cardboard mock ups of each building. He decided what embellishments were needed for the village scene and which people to highlight. Harry, a retired UD math professor recruited by his wife Cecelia, (so he would have something to do!) has been our primary set designer and craftsman for 10 years. The two men framed and sided the buildings using donated wood. Harry used pictures from the Internet of church facades as inspiration as he designed decorative details including the church window and alcove for the statue of Mary. Our wood shop tools used were bequeathed to us by former volunteer, Don. Steve, newly retired and recruited by his daughter, a Marian Library graduate student, began building sixteen 4’x4’ “tables” for displaying the settings. Work space for all these tables and buildings was a challenge, but we used anywhere we could, including under our work tables. Because of its magnitude, this village became a daunting but exciting project as it grew each week. Ann, a retired elementary teacher, consulted the Internet for directions on how to make miniature umbrellas, and Pat, a former nurse, began this difficult task. Much trial and error finally produced some colorful shade for the street sellers. Michele purchased the right silk flowers, grape vine material and other greenery and miniatures. Several ladies worked with Anne, Stephanie and Lois (mother of 9, grandmother of 32, and great-grandmother of 9) to make grape vineyards. This tedious job involved trimming silk fabric leaves to just the right size and repainting grapes, that were as small as grains of rice. The vines were hot glued to mini trellises and we tried to laugh not cry when we hot glued grapes to our fingers. Ann O. took the 208 figures home to carefully clean, iron and freshen their clothes. She was also involved with making roof tiles. We started fabricating tiles of clay, but Spring 2016
they didn’t all dry flat enough. Once we realized how many square inches we needed we ended up purchasing plastic doll house roofing, cutting and painting it. Mary Ellen, 88 and working through illness, used her professional painting skills to add detail to building entrances, to paint rocks, a small lake and other fine details in the Village. Weezie, our senior volunteer at 90 years young, sewed miniature curtains for the buildings from our stash of donated laces and fabrics. Mike’s wife Michele F, a Marian studies masters graduate, research assistant, and long-time volunteer cut and laid Styrofoam bricks, walls, and paths. She became Mike’s right hand person and painted buildings, made curtains and a miniature banner. In addition, she did final assembling of the grand setting with Mike and Fr. Roten. Setting up the Village took hours of precise assembly as the final three 12’x16’ tables support 10 scenes. Final trips to craft stores for decorative embellishments added the last of the special touches. Sr Jean and Sr Michaela ironed 102 feet of cloth skirting for the tables. Ann, our student worker, photographed it all to keep our records updated. This Provençal Village is a testament to the fun work we do as a year-round group of volunteers. On most Tuesdays we gather to do the Lord’s work in creating and maintaining a wonderful creche collection. During lunch, we catch up with everyone, and this supportive group is always fun to be with. The Provençal village of Santons, is also a memorial to Fr. LaCasse. It will remain in our museum until February 2017, so if you can plan a trip to Dayton we would love to give you a tour. (Editor’s note: the lack of last names in the above is a testament to the workers’ humility not our omission.)
Santon Village at Marian Library, University of Dayton
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PRE TRIPS
MUSIC SPEAKERS 1
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4 1) the Statesmen 2) Sherri Snedecor 3) One family Mariachi band 4) Praise Singers 5) Spring Baptist children’s choir
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9 6) David Mc Broom, Cowboy Poet 7) Luke Ellis, Brookwood Community 8) Jennifer Leadbetter 9) Raul and Mrs. Ponce 10) Sherrie Lewis
MANGER MUSEUM (MORE ON BACK COVER)
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EVENTS
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14 11) Too many choices 12) Make that bid 13) Manger Mart 14) Friday evening barbecue
15) Paper nativities 16) 3D printer creche 17) Singapore cinnamon bark 18) Painted Caribbean coconut shells 19) Knitted nativity 20) Extended Holy Family 21) Doll nativity 22) Nut and bolt creche
A Houston Look Back The hurricane clouds were swirling off the southern coast of the Mexican peninsula, but inside the Sheraton north hotel in Houston, Texas things were well underway to host Friends of the Creche eighth convention last October. Lovers of the nativity tradition from far and wide arrived in Houston to once again learn about and share the fellowship with other fellow collectors as well as the warm welcome served up by our hosts along with the barbecue. The early arrivals had a chance to discover the historic painted churches of Texas built by immigrants mostly from Germany and Czechoslovakia to the area nearly one hundred plus years prior. This pre tour did not disappoint in that one felt transported to a different place and time considering where these churches are located, basically in the middle of nowhere, no disrespect intended to a state as big as Texas. The artistic detail of the ceiling and wall paintings, the historic statuary and the great care and love given to the preservation of these churches made for a very nice day along with a lunch served in an open garden adjacent to one of the churches. The following day, those so choosing headed to the historic sea side area known as Galveston, itself a victim of a horrific hurricane in 1910, resulting in thousands lost due to poor early warning back then. The famous Galveston Strand gave visitors two opportunities to add to their collections, namely in a Christmas shop and just down the street in the Hendley market selling nativities from the four corners of the world along with tea and cookies bearing a stable scene of course. On the return, a home tour of one of the conventions chair persons, Audrey Pratt was featured to see her personal collection all beautifully displayed making use of every nook and cranny. A stop to the store ran by Brookwood community home gave members a chance to add one more creche to their suitcase and benefited a worthwhile cause about which we heard during one of the talks on Friday at the convention. Music, and more music opened and was heard throughout the convention. What better way to set the tone of a southwest convention than a mariachi band all from one family to welcome us to Houston. The guitars and trumpets echoed down the halls calling all to the manger of the Christ Child as those gathered sampled some of the tastes of Texas. On Friday morning, reveille was the Praise Singers of the Fallbrook Baptist church who have taken the adage, “to sing is to pray twice “truly to heart. Now with convention goers awakened, Raul Ponce 8
described in detail the wonderful southwestern tradition of Los Pastores which is the reenactment of the angels call to the shepherds to the stable in Bethlehem. David McBroom, better known as the cowboy poet treated all in attendance to a display of his mastery of self-written verse, reflecting his own life experiences and how God has been present there. The morning concluded with Ellen Mintz describing the many ways of storing and caring for our creche collections. For those who were unable to attend the convention, you may find a few of these tips elsewhere in this edition of the Creche Herald, courtesy of Ellen. After lunch, Luke Ellis from the Brookwood Community home spoke on how one small community has made such a difference in the lives of many people with mental and physical limitations as a follow up to our visit made the previous day to their store in old town Spring, Texas. To wind down a wonderful day, Jennifer Leadbetter left us all in stitches with her alphabetical collection of the many contributions Mexico, Spain, France, and assorted other peoples have made to the culture of Texas, including the creche of course. Saturday’s events began with non-other than our co-chair and newly elected Vice-President Judy Klein demonstrating the many simple but very attractive ways of displaying our nativity sets as she has done at her museum house called Bethlehem in Denton, that was featured in our magazine in the spring 2015 edition. Next and very much in keeping with the planning for the convention of offering thoughtful topics along with lighter and entertaining ones, Sherri Snedecor, an accomplished vocalist sang some familiar and some new selections we associate with the birth of Christ and did so beautifully. After lunch, Sherrie Lewis described how many of the customs associated with Christmas are often taken for granted and very much rooted in the birth of Christ but have become secularized over the years. To conclude the formal program, a children’s author, Karen Carson read her moving story of how the meaning of Christmas is often missed through the forest of Christmas trees and we were left singing just as we started with the Texas Children’s Choir from Spring Baptist Church. The Lone Star concluded as always with the gala banquet featuring tables decorated with mason jars representing that all important Texan garden, yellow roses, blue bells and naturally a lone star. The Statesmen, an allmale singing group concluded both the evening and the convention and reminded all that the stars do really shine big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, just not this night with the approaching tropical storm. (MW) Creche Herald
FROM OUR PRESIDENT, Welcome to the new members of Friends of the Creche (FOTC) who have joined us and are continuing their subscription to the Creche Herald. I hope you will enjoy your membership in the FOTC as much as you do the Creche Herald. Please remember that membership in the FOTC is from January through December of each year. To qualify for special member discounts at the annual meeting/conventions, you must become a member or renew your membership in the first quarter of the respective year. And, here we are in spring. Some of us have packed away our Christmas items and nativities, but many of us still have one or more nativities that are on display throughout the year. The magic of our own collection is that it speaks to us of the birth of Christ or the artistry of the set. The set may also tell of where you first obtained it and the memories of what you were doing at that time. You might have purchased it. It may have been a gift. You might be in the country of its origin or you might be in a small shop in your hometown. Or you might have been in the comfort of your own home, enjoying internet shopping. I’ve obtained some of my nativities when I have attended the meetings and conventions of the FOTC. In Houston 2015, I found a wonderful wood nativity at the Members Mart table as well as a very much talked about Nativity cookie jar at the Silent Auction. You never know what treasures you will find. The board strives to hold their meetings throughout the country so that members and friends from various parts of the United States may easily attend one of our meetings. We hold them in areas that we hope you will enjoy visiting. And we invite speakers who share their knowledge of the Nativity. The November 12, 2016 annual meeting will be held outside of Charleston, South Carolina at the Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner. The residents of the abbey are members of the worldwide order of Cistercians (commonly known as Trappists) who follow the rule of St. Benedict and devote their lives to prayer, spiritual study, work and hospitality. One of the most well-known Trappist monks is Thomas Merton (1915-1968), a contemplative author whose life was celebrated during the visit of Pope Francis and his address to the United States Congress in 2015. Fr. Guerric Heckel, founder and director of the annual Creche Festival at the Abbey and Fr. Johann Roten, S. M. of the University of Dayton will be the guest speakers for the day. Fr. Roten is a founding member of the Friends of the Creche. He has special interest and knowledge about how cultures throughout the world see the birth of Christ and Spring 2016
express their faith and cultural perspective in the form of Nativities. The annual meeting and the hotel accommodations have been set at the Courtyard Marriot in Summerville, South Carolina. Registration includes the bus ride that will take participants to the Abbey, the speakers, time to enjoy the gardens and the Benedictine hospitality that for which the monks are known. For those who can enjoy a longer adventure, 2016 is the year for the world congress of UN.FOE.PRAE. This international nativity collectors meeting (held once every 4 years) will be in Bergamo, Italy, just outside of Milan. We, as the Friends of the Creche organization, are members. The dates for the meeting are October 19-25. Cultural and artistic events have been organized for the XX World Crib Congress. Registration is €150 (currently about $165 US) and includes entrance to the market and exhibitions in Bergamo; tour guides in English as well as Spanish, German and Italian; simultaneous translations during the Opening Ceremony; the lectures and the General Assembly; spiritual music show; Gala Diner and bus transport to the location; special issue of the event and an information pack. Meals are extra as well as hotel accommodations and excursions. For tickets and information, contact ticketing@veniteadoremus2016.it. Some of our FOTC members have attended past international conventions. If you’d like to contact them or if you would like further information on the events of FOTC here in the United States, be sure to send a note to info@friendsofthecreche.org or through the website, www.friendsofthecreche.org. Till the next time, Sydne Yanko-Jongbloed President, Friends of the Creche
Past president, James Govan and current president, Sydne Yanko- Jongbloed share a word at the convention. 9
Learning from a Master By Marguerite Hoxie Sullivan
A large presepe with market, village and nativity made by Paulo. (Photo by Paulo Coppola)
Close up of an I pastori, a man in a village market, in one of Paulo’s creches. (Photo by Paulo Coppola)
There is nothing in the world like the Neapolitan creche, called presepe, which comes from Latin and means manger. While the first Italian creche was put together in 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi, who celebrated Mass around a live Nativity in Umbria’s Greggio, they evolved into eight stationary figures — the Holy Family, Wise Men and two animals — and then culminated in elaborate multi-level structures with many depictions of daily life. Today Naples is the center of the Italian creche, where since the 1700s, putting up the so-called Napolitano Presepe is a widespread tradition. Presepes are no simple manger with Nativity figures. Instead they include at least one village and one market with dozens to nearly a hundred figures and special effects. Such effects might include mechanized fountains, lights and even moving figures that include a laundress washing linens or the pizza maker baking pizza. Napolitano families erect presepes in their homes on December 8 but hold back baby Jesus until midnight on Christmas. Presepes stay up until after the feast of the Epiphany when the structures and figures are packed up for the next Christmas season. Yet, Christmas is everyday on Naples’ Via San Gregorio Armeno also known as Street of Nativity in the city’s old section. Here Naples’ master nativity makers spend the year producing their i pastori – the figures that make up Nativity scenes and the display structures. Some Napolese go nearly daily just to check what they are making. Paolo Coppola is one. As a child he went to Via San Gregorio Armeno with his grandfather to help select materials and pastori for the massive presepe that took up most of his living room.
“My grandfather had a great passion for presepes, and every year, from October 1, he began putting together a presepe covering our large living room. When I was young I spent hours listening to my grandfather and seeing what he did to create the scenes.” Today Paolo carries on this tradition not only putting together his own but also giving presepe-making lessons to his guests in his grandfather’s home, now Paolo and his wife Patrizia’s wonderful boutique hotel “Weekends-a-Napoli.” “My grandfather’s passion is now mine, and I have passed the tradition to my son and to our visitors,” he said. My husband and I were among them. In our presepelearning trip to Naples last summer, we stayed with Paolo and Patrizia having been directed there by an Italian friend knowing of my passion for creches. We received a special insider’s presepe lesson from instruction to a tour of Naples’ most famous ancient presepes. There are three steps to presepe making: space allocation, scenography and assembly. “The size and the measurements of the presepe depends on the space allocated for the floor, the background and the sides,” Paolo told us. After determining size, Paolo says the next step is gathering construction materials: usually wood for the structure (although some presepe makers use cardboard), cork for the exterior and hot glue. Year round, Paolo collects materials for the interior, such as burlap, artificial grass, carpeting, pebbles, anything that can be used to make the usually multi-level structures with pathways from manger to market to village(s) leading higher and higher or spread horizontally. Then comes the assembly. “Presepes are always different, depending on inspiration and creativity, in how scenes are portrayed,” Paolo said. As he designs the multi-layers he
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Creche Herald
thinks of what pastori, generally made of terra-cotta, often hand painted and sometimes dressed in tailored fabrics, he will put where. And he like most Neapolitan families often rearrange their presepes year-by-year to make them more personalized. He said a family might decide, “Maybe this year we’ll add the wood stove or the little brook with water and more sheep to the flock.” So they “head to San Gregorio Armeno to gather new presepe items. “Any object, an animal, a mill, a new figure, a fruit basket or Master presepe maker, basket of fish can enrich the teacher, and innkeeper Paulo Coppola in front manger scene.” of elaborate creche he Besides the Holy Family, designed and made. Magi, and animals, Neapolitan (Photo Marguerite Sullivan) families customarily place other key pastori in their presepes. “One is Benino, the sleeping shepherd, who was informed of Jesus’ birth by an angel. He is often located at the highest point of the Nativity,” Paolo said. A Unique Annual Meeting This Year!
“The Neapolitan presepe is the place where the sacred and profane, spiritual and daily life, prayer and humor come together in Naples, a city of contradictions,” Paolo said. The presepe is “not only craft and folk tradition, but is a high form of artistic expression,“ such expressed in the famous presepes at the 18th century San Martino Museum where he took us near his boutique hotel on Naples’ Vomero Hill. For the presepe lover, it is most interesting to compare “the works of the past alongside the many accomplishments of contemporary artists” he said, not only during the Christmas holidays, but year round can be visited in Naples’ many museums, galleries and religious sites – as well as its 21st century presepe shops.
James Johnston receives Minute of Recognition for years on the board.
Join us November 12, 2016 for a special opportunity to visit the renowned Mepkin Abbey Creche Festival in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
Courtyard Charleston Summerville, Summerville, South Carolina. Summerville is about 26 miles from the historic city of Charleston. (1-800-335-9746) The special hotel rate for the meeting is $110.00. Book early, limited availability. Registration cost: $55 per person if postmarked by July 1; $65 after July 1. Includes a continental breakfast, lunch and bus transportation to and from the Abbey. Send to Cathy Lincoln, 19715 N. Park Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH 44122. catcatw@aol. com. Registration MUST be postmarked by October 1, 2016.
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Rev. Guerric Heckel, Monk of Mepkin Abbey, Founder & Director of Mepkin Abbey Creche Festival Rev. Johann Roten, Director of Research, Art & Special Projects, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
Many thanks to Audrey, Judy and Cindy Looney at banquet.
Our Chairperson of the Lone Star, Audrey Pratt
Our Co-Chairperson, Judy Klein with daughter Miriam Klein.
Our morning features a continental breakfast, speakers, business meeting, and lunch. After lunch we shall bus over to beautiful Mepkin Abbey to see its renowned creche display, and for a wine and cheese reception. Both the bus transportation and the wine and cheese reception are courtesy of the Mepkin Abbey. There will be no vendors at the hotel as the Abbey has a wonderful gift store.
FOR INFORMATION:
Rita Bocher, 610-649-7520 or crecher@verizon.net
Spring 2016
Rev. Charles Hull, receives Minute of Recognition for service as treasurer. Holly Zenger (not pictured) was honored for her “second tour of duty” on the board.
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MANGER MUSEUM
Texas angels
Frontier nativity
From Chiapas, Mexico
Cowboy nativity Centerpiece with yellow rose, bluebells and star
Friends of the Creche
Convention Banner History
2001 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, “2001, A Creche Odyssey” 2003 Cape Cod, Massachusetts, “Creches by the Sea” 2005 Santa Fe, New Mexico, “Land of Enchanted Nativities”
2007 Dublin, Ohio, “Heartland Cradlesong” 2009 Salt Lake City, Utah, “Follow His Star” 2011 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, “A Northern Nativity” 2013 Cleveland, Ohio, “A Symphony of Nativities” 2015 Houston, Texas, “The Lone Star”