Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
12 Nov 2012
The installation of the outdoor Nativity in Cathedral Square will begin on Wednesday this week and will be completed by the first Sunday of Advent on 2 December when the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell will bless the life-size recreation of Christ's birth.
Erecting the Nativity with its hand-painted three-panel backdrop, covered manger and the 12 beautifully-crafted resin figures of the Holy Mother, Joseph, the Christ child, the Angel Gabriel, the three Kings, shepherds and livestock usually takes about two weeks.
"But with Sydney's unpredictable weather the installation can end up as a race against time," says Dieter Koch, Property Officer for the Archdiocese of Sydney, and recalls how last year's storms and heavy rain dogged the installation and had construction workers, electricians and the rest of the team working around the clock when the weather finally cleared.
Installed in the forecourt of St Mary's Cathedral, this open air Nativity is beloved by Sydneysiders and signifies Christmas not only to Catholics but to people of all faiths or even no faith at all.
A treasured tradition for Sydney families, school children and tourists, the Archdiocese's life-size open air Nativity has an extra special meaning for students from five Catholic secondary schools as well as past and present students at Burwood's Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College.
In 2011, after more than five years in use, the original backdrop of the Nativity painted by Sydney artist Tony Johansen had suffered from exposure and the city's high summer temperatures along with normal wear and tear, and needed replacing. But instead of turning to professionals, the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell was keen to employ the talents, vision and enthusiasm of young people from the city's systemic Catholic schools.
John Charadia, Creative Arts Advisor at the Catholic Education Office (CEO) embraced the Cardinal's suggestions and invited visual art classes at different schools across the Archdiocese to participate. Those first off the mark were chosen and in April last year under John's guidance, students from Marist Sisters College, Woolwich; Freeman Catholic High School at Bonnyrigg; Kingsgrove's St Ursula's College; Auburn Trinity Catholic College and De La Salle College, Carringbah met for the first time to discuss the design and their vision for the new backdrop.
Using a hall in Carringbah, the students not only worked on the backdrop during their visual art classes during school hours, but also volunteered their time and skills at weekends under the supervision of John Charadia and professional painter, Wanda Grein, who frequently helps John at artist retreats.
From a theme they developed entitled "Light of Hope" the young art students created a brilliant and spectacular backdrop for 12 life-size figures that were created in Italy 2005 by the Demetz family, renowned ecclesiastical artists since the 16th century.
Students from Burwood's Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College then stepped in and created a very handsome fence made of cypress to surround and protect the Nativity while on display in the Cathedral forecourt.
"In previous years the Nativity was surrounded by a series of street barriers as a form of protection but now, thanks to the students at Southern Cross, we have our very own and very handsome beautifully-made fence," Dieter Koch reports.
Along with the backdrop and custom-designed fence, both of which were seen for the first time last year, the Nativity also boasts a new state-of-the-art electrical lighting system, thanks to the generous donation and support given by Damian Fogarty, Managing Director of LED Safe. With the new lighting, the Nativity will delight at night as much as it is enjoyed by day.
While outdoor Nativities have long been popular in Europe but it is believed that Sydney's magnificent outdoor recreation of the Nativity is an Australian first.
An initiative of Cardinal Pell, the recreation of the Nativity in Cathedral Square has not only become a beloved pre-Christmas tradition but in the midst of the city's bustling commercialised of the season, stands as a potent reminder to tourists and residents alike of the true meaning of Christmas, when God gave His only son, Our Saviour, as a gift to the world.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
12 Nov 2012
At night thanks to state of the art lighting the Outdoor Nativity is equally spectacular
Erecting the Nativity with its hand-painted three-panel backdrop, covered manger and the 12 beautifully-crafted resin figures of the Holy Mother, Joseph, the Christ child, the Angel Gabriel, the three Kings, shepherds and livestock usually takes about two weeks.
"But with Sydney's unpredictable weather the installation can end up as a race against time," says Dieter Koch, Property Officer for the Archdiocese of Sydney, and recalls how last year's storms and heavy rain dogged the installation and had construction workers, electricians and the rest of the team working around the clock when the weather finally cleared.
Installed in the forecourt of St Mary's Cathedral, this open air Nativity is beloved by Sydneysiders and signifies Christmas not only to Catholics but to people of all faiths or even no faith at all.
The Nativity's 12 life size figures were crafted by ecclesiastical artists in Italy
In 2011, after more than five years in use, the original backdrop of the Nativity painted by Sydney artist Tony Johansen had suffered from exposure and the city's high summer temperatures along with normal wear and tear, and needed replacing. But instead of turning to professionals, the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell was keen to employ the talents, vision and enthusiasm of young people from the city's systemic Catholic schools.
John Charadia, Creative Arts Advisor at the Catholic Education Office (CEO) embraced the Cardinal's suggestions and invited visual art classes at different schools across the Archdiocese to participate. Those first off the mark were chosen and in April last year under John's guidance, students from Marist Sisters College, Woolwich; Freeman Catholic High School at Bonnyrigg; Kingsgrove's St Ursula's College; Auburn Trinity Catholic College and De La Salle College, Carringbah met for the first time to discuss the design and their vision for the new backdrop.
The Navity in Cathedral Square is a beloved tradition for Catholics and non Catholics alike
From a theme they developed entitled "Light of Hope" the young art students created a brilliant and spectacular backdrop for 12 life-size figures that were created in Italy 2005 by the Demetz family, renowned ecclesiastical artists since the 16th century.
Students from Burwood's Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College then stepped in and created a very handsome fence made of cypress to surround and protect the Nativity while on display in the Cathedral forecourt.
"In previous years the Nativity was surrounded by a series of street barriers as a form of protection but now, thanks to the students at Southern Cross, we have our very own and very handsome beautifully-made fence," Dieter Koch reports.
John Charadia with some of the students who helped paint the backdrop of the Cathedral's outdoor Nativity
While outdoor Nativities have long been popular in Europe but it is believed that Sydney's magnificent outdoor recreation of the Nativity is an Australian first.
An initiative of Cardinal Pell, the recreation of the Nativity in Cathedral Square has not only become a beloved pre-Christmas tradition but in the midst of the city's bustling commercialised of the season, stands as a potent reminder to tourists and residents alike of the true meaning of Christmas, when God gave His only son, Our Saviour, as a gift to the world.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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