Advent

Live Nativity is Appleton parish tradition

By Amanda Lauer
Compass Correspondent

APPLETON -- For more than 20 years, the Ladies of St. Mary, St. Mary Parish, has presented the Live Nativity. This annual event is held on the church grounds for one evening during Advent. This year it will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, 3:45-5:45 p.m.

	A d v e n t Time of Preparation

Diane Murphy is the Live Nativity chairperson. The purpose of this event, she said, is to "put some meaning into Christmas" and encourage both the participants and spectators "to give some thought about what we're celebrating as we approach the holidays."

Murphy and her husband William, along with their children Erin, 27, and Heather, 25, have been a part of the Live Nativity for 15 or 16 years. "We started when the girls were in third or fourth grade at Catholic Central (Elementary School). We've just kind of made it a tradition with our family that we would do it. We played any kind of character that was out there."

Six or seven years ago Murphy got more involved in the event so she could take over the reins from Sylvia Dannecker, the former chairperson. "I was asked to carry on the tradition as Sylvia approached the age where it became more difficult for her to run it. They groomed me to take it over and follow through with the tradition that the Ladies of St. Mary's had started."

"With it being on Saturday, we're holding it right before, during and after our 4:30 Mass at St. Mary's," noted Murphy. "We're hoping that the people coming into church will take the time to stop. We will have signs posted for no parking so that people driving by can view it as well."

The Live Nativity ensemble will include Mary, Joseph, three wise men, one or two shepherds and angels. Several volunteers play each character. "We do three to four half-hour shifts where we stand outside," said Murphy. The animals - some sheep, a camel and donkey - aren't live, and the role of baby Jesus is played by a doll supplied by Murphy's daughter. It is realistic enough to make people wonder if it's a live baby. Sacred religious music plays in the background as the characters stand in silence.

"The hardest part is coordinating volunteers to participate," noted Murphy. "We're lacking in participants. It's dwindled over the years. I don't know if we need new blood or what. I've got maybe two of my shifts that have enough people. It takes a good 10 people per shift so no one has to stand out more than a half-hour time frame."

The stable is reused each year, so setting up the scene is easy. "Things have been donated, such as the albs that the priests wear that show wear and tear, they use those for part of the costumes. I think Connie Polley was instrumental in making some of the costumes." Enough costumes are needed so that when one group has finished its shift, the next group can be dressed and immediately take their place.

Through the years, Murphy has taken part in the Live Nativity in all kinds of weather. "We've had this happen in very cold weather, we've had mild weather. But when it's been cold there's always this sense of energy, that when you're out it that, it's never that bad."

Murphy said she appreciates the reaction of their audience when witnessing the nativity. "I love to see the kids and the people oohing and ahhing. If we get 75 to 100 people and if we've touched anybody by them seeing it we feel that we accomplished what we set out to."

Barb Bocik of Appleton, along with her husband Rich, and daughters McKenna, 12, and Abigail, 10, have been participating in the Live Nativity for four years.

"The reason we do it is because that is the start of our Christmas," said Bocik. "The girls have always been angels. Rich is a wise man, and I have been a shepherd. I might have been an angel once, and I played Mary twice. It was quite an honor. When you're playing Mary you don't really see anybody who comes to see it but you can feel that people are there. You're staring at the baby Jesus and it's just overwhelming. You have such awe because it's hard to believe the way Jesus came into the world. It's very moving as a mother. It's very profound," said Bocik.

The event has become a family tradition, added Bocik. "It's a nice experience to get to meet other people in the parish. It's kind of fun to spend time with a lot of people we've seen over the last few years. ... You hear comments from people. Fr. Mike O'Rourke has come out and spoken just to us while we were out there saying 'Oh, you're doing such a great job.' My parents come every year. My mom calls us every year afterwards and she's always crying."