STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 St. Patrick\u2019s School is in the Christmas spirit! <\/p>\n
The Richmond school revived a cherished tradition this holiday season through a performance of a Christmas nativity pageant for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n
Students put on a performance on Monday led by the eighth-grade class, which narrated the nativity story through readings from the Bible. They were joined by second-graders reenacting the story. The youth choir, which included students in third through seventh-grade, sang joyous Advent songs woven throughout the Bible readings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very nice opportunity that we have at Christmastime, when we welcome Jesus, we remember to say happy birthday to him and to thank Jesus for coming to live in our world and in our hearts,\u201d said Fr. Robert Dylan, pastor of St. Patrick\u2019s Church.<\/p>\n
A stage inside the school\u2019s worship room was decorated to appear as a stable with a manger, with the star of Bethlehem twinkling at the top. Through Bible verses, students recounted and reenacted the miraculous birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, with students dressed as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, animals, and the three wise men, or magi. <\/p>\n
Principal Vincent Sadowski explained that St. Patrick\u2019s School revived the nativity event due to inquiries from both parents and grandparents \u2014 many of them St. Patrick\u2019s School alumni who fondly remember the show.<\/p>\n
Sadowski said it was a \u201ccomplete team effort\u201d between parents and school staff to bring back the tradition. He pointed to the support of several school staff, including Susan McDermott, Stephanie Carrington, Nicole Grasso, Maureen Harrigan, and Theresa Volastro.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think during this Christmas time, with all of the Santa excitement, which is amazing, it [the live nativity] serves a purpose,\u201d said Sadowski. \u201cIt\u2019s a reminder at the perfect time for what we are trying to do as Catholic schools \u2014 always reinforce the presence and the importance of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
The school also wished farewell to one of its priests, Rev. Marius Fernando, who has been assigned to a new parish, according to Fr. Dylan.<\/p>\n