Nativity Experience in USA: 75th anniversary

Animated Nativity Display

For 75 years families have enjoyed visiting the Comboni Missionaries
to view this unique, animated Nativity display. Narration is available in English and Spanish.

The Comboni Missionaries hosted their first Nativity Experience in 1947, in the carriage house of their new Sacred Heart Seminary on Beechmont Road, in the USA. Called the “Crib” in those days, the outbuilding recreated the Italian tradition of celebrating Christmas with scenes of the Nativity. Seminarians gathered rocks and moss from the area and created an impressive diorama of the Palestinian countryside, complete with cardboard starry sky, rivers, hills, and villages. Imported statuettes of the Holy Family, the ox and ass, angels, shepherds, kings, sheep and even a dog all had a role as dramatic lights and music carried a magical retelling of the Christmas story.

Now in its 75th year, the Nativity Experience has grown to be a family favorite for generations. We hope you’ll join us again this year in celebrating the birth of our Savior. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!
Comboni Missionaries