The Pittsburgh creche, the world’s only authorized replica of the Vatican nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, was dedicated Friday in the plaza outside the U.S. Steel Tower downtown.”It’s just beautiful,” visitor Jackie Coho said. “We come a couple times throughout the season, just to make sure it’s here. We come and see it.”Michael Stonfer, a parent of a student who performed in the choir at the dedication, said, “We take great pride in having the national creche in Pittsburgh, so we always come down to see it and support it, and us being involved in it every year makes it so special for the holiday season.””I went to Catholic school. The kids come, and they sing and stuff, and I just enjoy seeing it. Takes me back to my childhood,” Coho said.Bishop Mark Eckman, of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, says it takes about four weeks to assemble the creche.”It takes a lot of labor to put this together. You can’t tell, but underneath the facade here is a structural steel, so the unions come together and they volunteer a lot of time to put this together,” Eckman said.Faith leaders from across Pittsburgh gathered for the creche dedication, leading attendees in hymns and prayers.”Pittsburgh has a close connection with the Vatican. We’ve had that for the last 180 years, from our first bishop on, so it’s not surprising that we would have something like this,” Eckman said. “I think people appreciate what they see in Rome, and this is a way that we can share in what goes on in the universal church.”Eckman noted that the dedication is one of many exciting events happening in the Pittsburgh area.”Light Up Night’s tomorrow night, and so, a lot of people come to town, and it really does begin not just a shopping season, which is a focus for a lot of folks, but getting your house ready, anticipating guests coming to the home and just being able to live a little more joyful season,” Eckman said. “It’s just a nice time.”He hopes people will take the time to enjoy everything around them.”Advent is a time for us to slow down a little bit as we’re preparing for the birthday of our Lord, and to meditate upon God’s love, and then hopefully to practice that love in the way that we treat other people,” Eckman said. The Pittsburgh creche will be open 24 hours a day until Jan. 6.
PITTSBURGH —
The Pittsburgh creche, the world’s only authorized replica of the Vatican nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, was dedicated Friday in the plaza outside the U.S. Steel Tower downtown.
“It’s just beautiful,” visitor Jackie Coho said. “We come a couple times throughout the season, just to make sure it’s here. We come and see it.”
Michael Stonfer, a parent of a student who performed in the choir at the dedication, said, “We take great pride in having the national creche in Pittsburgh, so we always come down to see it and support it, and us being involved in it every year makes it so special for the holiday season.”
“I went to Catholic school. The kids come, and they sing and stuff, and I just enjoy seeing it. Takes me back to my childhood,” Coho said.
Bishop Mark Eckman, of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, says it takes about four weeks to assemble the creche.
“It takes a lot of labor to put this together. You can’t tell, but underneath the facade here is a structural steel, so the unions come together and they volunteer a lot of time to put this together,” Eckman said.
Faith leaders from across Pittsburgh gathered for the creche dedication, leading attendees in hymns and prayers.
“Pittsburgh has a close connection with the Vatican. We’ve had that for the last 180 years, from our first bishop on, so it’s not surprising that we would have something like this,” Eckman said. “I think people appreciate what they see in Rome, and this is a way that we can share in what goes on in the universal church.”
Eckman noted that the dedication is one of many exciting events happening in the Pittsburgh area.
“Light Up Night’s tomorrow night, and so, a lot of people come to town, and it really does begin not just a shopping season, which is a focus for a lot of folks, but getting your house ready, anticipating guests coming to the home and just being able to live a little more joyful season,” Eckman said. “It’s just a nice time.”
He hopes people will take the time to enjoy everything around them.
“Advent is a time for us to slow down a little bit as we’re preparing for the birthday of our Lord, and to meditate upon God’s love, and then hopefully to practice that love in the way that we treat other people,” Eckman said.
The Pittsburgh creche will be open 24 hours a day until Jan. 6.