Christmas crèche figurines come from all over the globe

Italian-born priest is chief set designer of his church's nativity scene

Christmas – December 25

- WCR photo by Ted Fitzgerald Msgr. Vincent Patrizi's precious crèche is unveiled each Christmas at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Corpus Christi, Texas.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
Corpus Christi, Texas

Since St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 popularized the tradition of constructing a manger scene to enhance the celebration of the birth of Christ, Christians world-wide have embellished the concept, creating more elaborate crèche scenes, adding shepherds, sheep, an angel, a cow, a donkey and at the appropriate time, the magi and their camels.

One who embraces this tradition enthusiastically is Msgr. Vincent Patrizi in his home parish of Our Lady of the Sea in Corpus Christi.

Global marketplace

Each Christmas season sees hundreds of people visit his church to admire the unusual manger scene he had constructed over many years. In his position as Director of the Apostleship to the Sea since 1975 operating from Our Lady's, this ministry to seamen has provided ample opportunity for him to add to his collection during world-wide travels.

The parish church is at Corpus Christi Beach, an area separated from the city by its busy port. The Beach is home to famed Texas State Aquarium, the aircraft carrier/museum Lexington and some upscale motels. For a small, isolated church in a relatively undeveloped area, it's remarkably well-known.

Dedicated service

When he's not seeing to his pastoral duties and setting up his crèche, there's no room for idleness in the dedicated monsignor's routine. A priest for 55 years, he was born in Italy in 1927 and served in a number of East Coast churches before assuming pastoral duties in this coastal Texas diocese in 1971. In 2005, Father Vincent was invested as monsignor by Bishop Edmond Carmody in Corpus Christi Cathedral.

He welcomes part-time parishioners from all over the world to his modest church and is well-known internationally because of his seamen's ministry. He travels daily to vessels in the port, counselling their crews and at times celebrating the Eucharist on shipboard.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church is of interest locally for its historic connections. It was built in 1951 when the city's first cathedral, St. Patrick's, was being dismantled after being replaced in 1940 by the new Corpus Christi Cathedral.

The nave and sanctuary from the old cathedral were moved to Corpus Christi Beach as were the altar, windows and statues so that visitors can almost experience attendance at the old diocesan seat 100 years ago.

Cognizant of the milieus of its many sea-faring, part-time parishioners, the re-established church was dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea.

The director

Setting up the parish crèche is not a communal affair. Monsignor knows where each piece came from, whether donated or collected by himself from some 20 different countries.

All are of a size to accent the focal manger group of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and he knows exactly where each is to be placed. Almost anyone can be in attendance at this scene celebrating the anniversary of the world-changing first Christmas.

A diverse multitude

The 700 pieces, assembled over 40 years, all face the Holy Family and include, for example, a fisherman, dinosaurs, deer, pigs, an armadillo and many human figures. The crèche is unveiled by the pastor himself at a Christmas Mass.

Today, Our Lady Star of the Sea welcomes a variety of the faithful to daily Masses, seamen, people from area towns who feel attached to the little sanctuary and in season, some of the 100 or so families of Winter Texans who reside at Corpus Christi Beach. In addition to about 150 permanent Catholic families that support this church are other seasonal parishioners, those of other religious persuasions who, attracted to the homely church, become temporarily Winter Catholics.

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