By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
A hush fell over the sanctuary of St. Joseph Catholic Church as the lights dimmed and an acoustic guitarist began playing the opening strains of “The First Noel.”
A few moments later, the Virgin Mary appeared on the church altar and was approached by the angel Gabriel, who told her that she would conceive a son named Jesus.
So began a re-enactment of the birth of Jesus by the church parishioners, transporting hundreds of people who sat in the sanctuary back in time 2,000 years ago to one of the most blessed events on the Christian calendar: Christmas Day.
For the first time ever, St. Joseph Church in Sea Isle City staged a live nativity scene that began Saturday night inside the sanctuary and then continued outside in a hay-filled manger depicting the humble birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Adding to the realism of the manger scene was a collection of live animals, including sheep, goats, donkeys, an ox and even two camels.
“I thought the reality of it was amazing,” Sea Isle resident Denise Daniele said of the nativity scene. “It was fabulous. Jesus is the reason for the season. This is what Christmas is all about.”
Denise Daniele and her husband, Joe, sat in the front row of chairs set up in the church parking lot for audience members to watch the re-enactment of Jesus’ birth unfold.
They and other audience members were just a few feet from the costumed parishioners who portrayed Mary and Joseph, the three Wise Men, shepherds and the angels. The animals were near them, too.
“You feel like you were transported back 2,000 years ago,” Joe Daniele said.
The actors had no speaking roles. Instead, the nativity scene was narrated by another parishioner, Mary Beth Libro. The group Cherub Angels sang classic Christmas songs and provided musical accompaniment.
Cherub Angels included singers Marie Mulholland, Myka Morris, Flora Morris and Ginger Radzieta, acoustic guitarist and singer Martin Radzieta and music director Colleen Pond.
Joseph and Mary were played by real-life husband and wife Kevin and Dana Morris. Dana said she was pleased to be part of an event that made the holiday season even brighter for so many people.
“It was amazing,” she exclaimed.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio, a member of St. Joseph Church, portrayed the Bethlehem innkeeper who told Mary and Joseph there was no more room at his place for the night and suggested they sleep in a nearby barnyard.
“It was an honor to be part of this event. It was a great community event. Look at all of the people who were here,” Desiderio said.
Father Perry Cherubini, the pastor of St. Joseph Church, invited the mayor to play the innkeeper.
Addressing it to the friends and families of the church, Father Cherubini wrote a personal message in the song book for the live nativity scene expressing his hope that the event “will touch your hearts with joy and peace.”
“Christmas is much more than a holiday. It’s a Holy Day,” he wrote. “It is a time when Jesus was born to be the Light of the World.”
