Annual Festival of Nativities at SJRCC

In 2022, the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center hosted our first annual Festival of Nativities. More than 200 guests visited to view more than 80 nativity scenes from around the diocese and the world! 

The nativity scene has been around since 1223 when St. Francis of Assisi was inspired by a trip to the Holy Land. He used living people and animals to stage Jesus Christ’s humble beginnings. The living scene was soon recreated in other Catholic countries in the form of three-dimensional figurines, also known as a crèche. With Mary and the Christ child at the center, the scene also featured Joseph, shepherds, wisemen, angels and animals. The crèche gained popularity and has spread across cultural and political boundaries to become a traditional Christian symbol of Christ’s birth. 

At the Festival of Nativities, guests celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by viewing nativity displays setup throughout our main building. This family-friendly event offers a peaceful place for guests to reflect upon Christ’s sacred birth as they usher in the Christmas season. 

Do you have a nativity set you’d like to display at this event, contact Marketing Specialist Twyla Arnold, (765) 412-1616 or tarnold@dol-in.org to participate! 

The retreat center staff was inspired to host this event by the Mepkin Abbey Annual Creche Festival in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.