For The Dialog
OCEAN CITY, Md. – Parishioners at St. Luke Church received an early Christmas gift last weekend: Father Paul Jennings’ massive Nativity display that includes a whole community of miniature figurines at work and play.
Some 600 individual figurines and 20 settings are in the community set up by Father Jennings last week. They spread out on each side and in front of the central Nativity set depicting the scene of Jesus’ birth on the first Christmas.
“I put it up for the kids, but it’s really the big kids (adults) who like it most,” Father Jennings said with a grin Dec. 16.
That observation is borne out by how older parishioners, who had seen the display at St. Luke the past two years that Father Jennings has been pastor, had asked him recently when he would set it up. Before coming to Ocean City, he had displayed the figurines as pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul in Easton and of St. Christopher on Kent Island.
Fontanini figurines from Italy form most of the display, but pieces from other countries are included. The most recent is an angel from Canada; Father Jennings said other countries represented include France, Germany and Spain.
The community is displayed to the far side of the front of the church. A number of people came up to view it after the 4 p.m. Mass.
“It’s gorgeous,” said Alicia Decasaris, visiting from the Washington, D.C., area. “I think it’s inspiring. I have the start of the same set.”
Ralph Hilser of Bel Air, Md., who has a second home here, may have been getting some ideas, according to his wife, Joyce. “We’ve been married 39 years and he’s been religious, so to speak, to make sure the Nativity set is up (each year) and all the pieces are in their correct places.”
“There’s a lot to look at,” Ralph said while studying the scene.
Joyce, who was an elementary library media specialist, noted how happy all the people seemed while going about their usual daily tasks. She thought each character probably had its own story, which could be made into a book that tied each to stories from the Bible.
Father Jennings arranged the display himself, taking five or six hours over the course of three evenings. Besides the Nativity, he cited some of his favorites. One shows a Roman Centurion reading a decree, while another keeps post in a nearby watchtower. It reminds him of the 19 years he spent as a police chaplain, to the Maryland State Police and to the Queen Anne Sheriff’s Office while at St. Christopher.
Another is a marketplace setting with people going about their everyday lives.
Originally, Father Jennings started the Nativity set for his sister, Connie Gallagher, who wanted a nice Nativity for her children. He purchased a Fontanini set for her, then continued to add to it each year.
When her children left home as young adults, she opted for another Nativity set, so Father Jennings bought her one and took the Fontanini-based set for himself. Connie and his other sister, Maggie Clark, purchase new pieces each year.
The detail of the figurines continues to impress Father Jennings even 35 years after the collection began. For example, he noted that a figurine of a man hunting by bow and arrow with his dog shows the dog toting the bird; the quiver of arrows the man carries has fine detail on the feathers that help guide each arrow.
In one context, the scene carries out the theme of Christmas itself. God sent Jesus into the world for all people.
