St Mary’s Cathedral Nativity Scene to be Blessed this Sunday

By Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese

12 January 2005

For some time Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, has been concerned about the gradual removal of Christ as the central message of Christmas. Early in 2005 he commissioned a project to install a large nativity scene in the forecourt of St Mary’s Cathedral – a public statement of the key message of God’s gift of his Son to us all.

Cardinal Pell will bless the Nativity scene in the forecourt of St Mary’s Cathedral following the 10.30am Mass this Sunday.

Featuring the Holy Family - Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus- the lifesize scene, complete with stable, includes the Gloria Angel, animals – ox and donkey, three sheep and two lambs - and the three shepherds as well as the three wise men.

The whole scene is 8m wide, 5m high and 4m deep.

The practice of erecting mangers was begun by St Francis of Assisi (died 1226) as a means to proclaim the message of Christmas.

Cardinal Pell says “I would invite all people of goodwill to come and spend some time reflecting on the central role of Jesus in Christmas, to take the time out from Christmas parties, end of school activities and present buying to prepare their hearts for Christmas and the coming again of the Son of God as man.”

Christmas at St Mary’s Cathedral features a program of music and entertainment around the Nativity Scene in the Cathedral Square. The full program follows (see attached).

DETAILS OF THE BLESSING:
DATE: Sunday 4th December
TIME: 12noon
VENUE: Forecourt, St Mary’s Cathedral

view www.sydney.catholic.org.au/events/christmas 

Activities in Cathedral Square in the lead up to Christmas

Sunday, 4th December: 12noon Nativity Blessing -commencing with the 10.30am Mass St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir 
Thursday 8th December: 6-7pm St. Mary’s Singers & the St. Mary’s Brass Band
Sunday, 11th December: 12noon – 1pm St. Mary’s Cathedral College Concert Band     
Thursday, 15th Decembe: 6-7pm St. Mary’s Singers & the St. Mary’s Brass Band   
Sunday, 18th December: 12noon St. Mary’s Cathedral Scholars Chorale Caritas Youth Choir
Tuesday, 20th December: 12noon Catholic Schools of Performing Arts (CaSPA)  
Wednesday, 21st December: 12noon Kevinwood Bells
Thursday, 22nd December: 6-7pm Kevinwood Bells  

Annual Events inside the Cathedral
Thursday, 22nd December: 7.30pm Annual Carol Service & Readings

Christmas Masses

Christmas Eve : 6.00pm - Children’s Mass (Capella Sublima Choir); 8.00pm - St. Mary’s Singers (Carols from 7.30pm)
Christmas Day: Midnight Mass - Cathedral Choir (Carols will be sung from 11.15pm); 7.00am; 9.00am - Cantor; 10.30am Solemn High Mass - Cathedral Choir; 6.00pm - Mass with Congregational Carols