Creche exhibit to shine at St. Alphonsus Nov. 29-Dec. 6

Story and file photos by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald

The Friends of St. Alphonsus will host its annual “International Creche Exhibit,” a self-guided tour of Nativity displays from throughout the world inside iconic St. Alphonsus Church at 2029 Constance St. in New Orleans. 

The 2020 exhibit’s opening hours will be: 

• Nov. 29, noon-4 p.m.

• Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Dec. 6, noon to 4 p.m.

Entrance is free and open to the public, with masking and social-distancing guidelines strictly enforced; however, good will donations will be accepted by the Friends of St. Alphonsus, the volunteer group that supports the 1857-built church’s use as an arts and cultural center in the area once nicknamed “Ecclesiastical Square” for its numerous Catholic churches, schools and convents.

“Last year we had 130 creches representing 30 different countries,” said Cheryl Caprera, office coordinator for the Friends of St. Alphonsus.

This year, that number will increase by at least two dozen as creches that were traditionally exhibited at St. Clement of Rome’s parish hall will join St. Alphonsus’ exhibit for the first time.

“The creches are primarily family creches that people use every year in their own homes,” said Caprera, explaining why the exhibit runs just seven days during the first week of Advent. “The families want to display (their creches) so that people can see them before they pack them up to display in their own homes.”

Power in numbers

Nativity scenes at the annual event sprawl across St. Alphonsus’ massive nave, filling the church’s deep window sills and planks set atop the pews. Greeting visitors this year, just inside the entrance, will be the large cypress stable originally made for St. Alphonsus Church. The stable will host a set of large Nativity figures on loan from neighboring St. Mary’s Assumption Church.

“We’re going to have the whole stable put together, which has not been done in a while,” Caprera said.

In step with social-distancing guidelines, visitors will view the creches in numerical order, with the tour culminating at St. Alphonsus’ magnificent stained-glass window depicting the Nativity. New this year will be the sale of 16-inch teddy bears and small Christmas ornaments: decorated wooden birdhouses and crocheted and ceramic angels.

Church benefits from spring cleaning

Caprera said visitors who have not been to St. Alphonsus in a while might also detect another change: a freshened interior space. Beginning in April, a volunteer crew of six people took advantage of the COVID-19 lockdown to systematically clean the entire ground floor, dusting pews, polishing marble and vacuuming nooks and crannies.

“We also got on our hands and knees to scrub the floors,” Cabrera said. “(Cleaning the church) was something I could not have done by myself, and I want to give our volunteers a shout-out!”

Caprera, who came on board as office coordinator in March, succeeds 25-year Friends of St. Alphonsus volunteer Armand Bertin, who retired after serving for eight years as office coordinator and the previous two years as president of the Friends group.

Beginning Dec. 10, St. Alphonsus’ regular opening hours will be Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information, including how to donate or become a member of the Friends group, visit the updated website at www.friendsofstalphonus.org or email [email protected].

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