Dear friends,

In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi began a tradition which we continue at St. Pius in a special way in 2009. With the help of a nobleman named John in the town of Greccio in Italy, St. Francis put together a live manger scene.  Francis said, "I wish in full reality to awaken the remembrance of the child as he was born in Bethlehem and of all the hardship he had to endure in his childhood.  I wish to see with my bodily eyes what it meant to lie in a manger and sleep on hay, between an ox and an ass." 

This Christmas, through the generosity of some noble benefactors, we will once again have an outdoor crèche in front of our church.  Jack and Dot Carney, former parishioners and parents of Trish Bartel, have donated the Holy Family on the occasion of their 50^th wedding anniversary.  Mike Iarocchi, a member of the parish, donated the materials and the construction of the shed.  We dedicated and blessed our new outdoor manger at the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.

The outdoor version of our crèche -- complementing the lovely crèche on St. Joseph's altar (thanks to Steve Verducci and the Elmhurst Boys for their work in putting up the indoor crèche) - is symbolic during this diocesan year of evangelization.  It reminds us that our parish community is to follow the example of the Holy Family who welcomed the shepherds and the magi so they could adore the One who would become our King and Good Shepherd.  Our outdoor crèche, then, is a sign of God's welcome and love.

It is also a reminder that the love of Christ must be lived in the world.  As Pope Benedict teaches:

Our communities, when they celebrate the Eucharist, must become even more conscious that the sacrifice of Christ is for all, and that the Eucharist thus compels all who believe in Him to become "bread that is broken" for others for the building of a more just and fraternal world.  Sacramentum Caritatis, #88

May your celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior bring you and your loved ones closer to the awesome reality captured in these words by Pope Benedict:  "We have direct access to the heart of this child, and we can become his friends."

A happy and holy Christmas!

Fr. Ken & the Dominican Friars & Sisters