Saint Joseph's Oratory unveils its Crypt Church Nativity scene

"A World in a Crèche" exhibition presents over
100 Nativity scenes from 100 countries

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 14, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Advent is a special time of year at Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, as the sanctuary comes alive in celebration of age-old traditions. The annual arrival of the Nativity scene in the Oratory's Crypt Church is a big part of these holiday festivities.

In the spirit of the season, the Oratory invites visitors to discover its temporary holiday exhibition, "A World in a Crèche," which showcases a hundred Nativity scenes from as many countries from the five continents. The selected pieces are part of a collection numbering over a thousand.

The Crypt Church Nativity scene’s dimensions, colours and style complement the architecture of the space. It is positioned to be visible from any angle and easy to approach. (CNW Group/Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal)

The life-size crèche completed in 1951 by Montréal sculptor Joseph Guardo is the centrepiece of the exhibition. For over 40 years, this representation of the Holy Family has been installed at the entrance to welcome visitors during the Christmas season. (CNW Group/Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal)

Visitors can discover Nativity scenes from over 100 countries at Saint Joseph’s Oratory. The exhibition features a variety of scenes made with many different materials and crafting styles. (CNW Group/Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal)

"The exhibition has received a lot of media coverage for one of the hundred crèches in particular: the 'hipster' Nativity scene that's been on display since May 2017," said Chantale Turbide, Ph.D., curator of the museum and artistic heritage of Saint Joseph's Oratory. For centuries, the crèche has served as an opportunity for believers from many different communities to represent the iconic scene of the Nativity of Jesus. Certain African Nativity scenes have replaced the traditional donkey and ox with a zebra and giraffe. In the Seychelles, turtles come to visit Baby Jesus."

"All of the attention that the Nativity exhibition received this year came as a surprise, but it shows that the Oratory has done a good job of curating and presenting interpretations by a diverse collection of artists—from the traditional to the very modern," said Father Claude Grou, CSC. "This is in line with our mission of openness and inclusion as a bridge between spirituality and culture, which started with Saint Brother André."

The Oratory will be hosting several activities during the last few days before the big Christmas celebration. See the complete calendar of holiday activities at the Oratory: https://www.saint-joseph.org/en/event/the-holidays-at-saint-josephs-oratory-2018.

SOURCE Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal

To schedule an interview or obtain high-resolution photos, please contact: Danielle Decelles, Communications Service, Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, 514-733-8211, ext. 2711, 514-264-1764 (mobile), [email protected], www.saint-joseph.org; Geneviève Cormier, Massy Forget Langlois Public Relations, 514-842-2455, ext. 22, 514-941-5640 (mobile), [email protected]