Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
30 Nov 2012
Drivers as well as pedestrians on College Street did a double-take on Wednesday this week when a truck pulled up at the lights. A large cow and a donkey could be seen on the tray of the truck, but what was even more surprising was the angel complete with wings riding in the passenger seat.
The life-like resin figures of Sydney's beloved outdoor Nativity were being moved from Cathedral House where they are stored along St Mary's Road to College Street and into Cathedral Square.
"People stopped at the College Street lights couldn't believe their eyes and instantly pulled out their smart phones and started taking photographs," says Dieter Koch, Property Officer for St Mary's Cathedral and the man who oversees installation of the Nativity each year.
Installation of the Nativity takes at least 10 days but with Sydney's unsettled weather and thunderstorms, Dieter always allows two weeks.
"Last year it was a race against time after we lost more than two and a half days due to weather. But this year we were lucky with only a few storms and they didn't last long," he says.
The installation of the outdoor Nativity was completed Friday morning in plenty of time for the blessing and special ceremony which traditionally takes place on the first Sunday of Advent.
This year Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December and the blessing will take place in Cathedral Square after the 10.30 am Solemn Choral Mass. As the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell is currently overseas, Father Danai Penollar will be celebrate the Mass after which he will bless the Nativity.
In past years on the first Sunday in Advent, once the Mass is over, St Mary's Cathedral Choir leads the congregation through the main doors of the Cathedral and down the steps into the forecourt where the blessing of the outdoor Nativity takes place.
"But for the first time this year the procession from the Cathedral will be led by children dressed as angels with the choir next and then the rest of the congregation," says Fr Danai.
While youngsters dressed as angels have been part of the blessing of the Nativity for the past three years, this year they will attend the Solemn Choral Mass and when this ends, will gather at the altar and lead Fr Danai, St Mary's Cathedral Choir and the rest of the congregation through the main doors of St Mary's and down the steps and across the forecourt to the Nativity.
Aged between 5 and 11 years of age, the youngsters will gather handfuls of rose petals which they will sprinkle in front of Fr Danai during the blessing of the Nativity.
"Children really bring the Nativity alive and I thought having them present at the Mass beforehand and leading the Choir and congregation out of the Cathedral was a lovely way of involving them further, " says Helen Hofman, House and Events Manager for St Mary's Cathedral House.
Coming up with white gowns and angel wings for the young participants was one thing. But with schools about to break up for summer, finding a group of 10 children was a bit more difficult. Which was when, Mariola Herbert, receptionist at St Mary's Cathedral stepped in.
In her free time, Mariola and fellow musician Gabriel Santaso hold guitar classes for youngsters at their home parish of St Gertrude in Smithfield. An active member of the Smithfield parish and St Benedict's Church, Smithfield Mariola called on her young students and asked them if they would like to be the angels.
"We are making sure they look like angels - now we just have to hope they behave like angels," she says.
At 12.30, following the blessing of the outdoor Nativity in Cathedral Square, Fr Danai will open the children's A Christmas Story Art Exhibition in The Crypt where 93 artworks chosen from almost 100 entries from children in Year 5 and Year 6 at Catholic schools and Religious Education Classes across Sydney and the Dioceses of Broken Bay and Wollongong will be remain on display for the next five weeks.
The day will then be given over to the Cathedral youth group with Embrace's annual fiesta in the Square including food stalls, barbecues, face painting and plenty of family-focussed activities.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
30 Nov 2012
Carrying baskets of rose petals these small "Christmas angels" wait for the blessing of the Nativity to begin
The life-like resin figures of Sydney's beloved outdoor Nativity were being moved from Cathedral House where they are stored along St Mary's Road to College Street and into Cathedral Square.
"People stopped at the College Street lights couldn't believe their eyes and instantly pulled out their smart phones and started taking photographs," says Dieter Koch, Property Officer for St Mary's Cathedral and the man who oversees installation of the Nativity each year.
Installation of the Nativity takes at least 10 days but with Sydney's unsettled weather and thunderstorms, Dieter always allows two weeks.
The outdoor Nativity in Cathedral Square will be blessed on Sunday
The installation of the outdoor Nativity was completed Friday morning in plenty of time for the blessing and special ceremony which traditionally takes place on the first Sunday of Advent.
This year Advent begins on Sunday, 2 December and the blessing will take place in Cathedral Square after the 10.30 am Solemn Choral Mass. As the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell is currently overseas, Father Danai Penollar will be celebrate the Mass after which he will bless the Nativity.
In past years on the first Sunday in Advent, once the Mass is over, St Mary's Cathedral Choir leads the congregation through the main doors of the Cathedral and down the steps into the forecourt where the blessing of the outdoor Nativity takes place.
Children dressed as angels at the blessing of the outdoor Nativity last year
While youngsters dressed as angels have been part of the blessing of the Nativity for the past three years, this year they will attend the Solemn Choral Mass and when this ends, will gather at the altar and lead Fr Danai, St Mary's Cathedral Choir and the rest of the congregation through the main doors of St Mary's and down the steps and across the forecourt to the Nativity.
Aged between 5 and 11 years of age, the youngsters will gather handfuls of rose petals which they will sprinkle in front of Fr Danai during the blessing of the Nativity.
"Children really bring the Nativity alive and I thought having them present at the Mass beforehand and leading the Choir and congregation out of the Cathedral was a lovely way of involving them further, " says Helen Hofman, House and Events Manager for St Mary's Cathedral House.
At night thanks to state of the art lighting the Outdoor Nativity is equally spectacular
In her free time, Mariola and fellow musician Gabriel Santaso hold guitar classes for youngsters at their home parish of St Gertrude in Smithfield. An active member of the Smithfield parish and St Benedict's Church, Smithfield Mariola called on her young students and asked them if they would like to be the angels.
"We are making sure they look like angels - now we just have to hope they behave like angels," she says.
At 12.30, following the blessing of the outdoor Nativity in Cathedral Square, Fr Danai will open the children's A Christmas Story Art Exhibition in The Crypt where 93 artworks chosen from almost 100 entries from children in Year 5 and Year 6 at Catholic schools and Religious Education Classes across Sydney and the Dioceses of Broken Bay and Wollongong will be remain on display for the next five weeks.
The blessing over Sydney's Christmas angels take a rest
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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