Every day until the end of January Sydney Catholics have an opportunity to experience a magnificent nativity at Our Lady of Fatima church in Caringbah.
Assistant priest Fr Željko Evetović led the project, working tirelessly for two weeks to recreate an experience of the Christmas story for parishioners and visitors.
Featuring a water garden, an Aussie-styled crib, St Francis of Assisi in a garden and the three wise men crossing a desert, the immersive artwork appeals to all the senses and takes up a full room just outside the church.
Fr Evetović hopes to spark a new Christmas tradition inspired by Pope Francis’ appeal last year to families to be creative in placing nativity scenes in their homes, workplaces and community spaces, and his own Serbian heritage,
“Every year children line up for a photo with Santa Claus, but why not have an annual family photo in front of the nativity instead?” he said.
Parishioners pitched in with time, effort and donations to create impressively detailed arrangements and everything in the room has been thoughtfully placed in order to reflect wisdom from scripture and the church’s tradition.
Family educator at Our Lady of Fatima Primary School Tracey Bowler has brought students during advent to come to visit, learn, pray and sing together.
Beginning at the entrance where two olive trees stand in large pots, the young pilgrims are drawn to a water feature in the centre of the room planted with flowers and greenery—a symbol of Christ as the source of all life.
Three separate scenes—St Francis with animals, a nativity, and the wise men crossing a desert, take up the rest of the room.
Wheelbarrows-full of sand and hay, dozens of trees and plants, thousands of lights and more than 110 animal figures are included in the magnificent seasonal display.
“I wanted to show the families what is possible, to be creative with their children and to make it part of their tradition to build a nativity together,” said Fr Evetović.
He invited all to see the nativity and pray in the church which will be open until evening each day until end of January.