Welcome to the Saint Brigid’s Persepio

“A Journey of Love”

St. Brigid's has always been known as a parish that is rich in traditions and customs that help make our worship joyful and meaningful. St. Brigid’s is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Nassau County, dating it origins to 1850. Eleven years ago, because of the encouragement of our former pastor, Fr. Frank Gaeta, an old European tradition was brought to the north transept of St. Brigid’s–The Presepio.

Saint Francis of Assisi is generally credited with starting the popular tradition of the Christmas crèche. In 1223, he created a Nativity scene with a live ox and donkey, sheep and an infant on a bed of straw in a manger-like setting. This was the first Presepio. St. Cajetan da Thiene, in 16th century Naples, is credited with planting the seed that contributed to the development of home displays of the crèche. The Presepio as we know it today is a realistic, three-dimensional re-creation of the Nativity scene and the surrounding countryside.

It is in Naples that the Presepio reached its fullest development. Naples and the surrounding countryside provided much of the inspiration for the Presepio scenes. The traditional Presepio contained a population of artisans, fruit and fish vendors, inns and taverns, animals of the world and of course a crèche scene with Mary, Joseph, sheep, shepherds and the infant Jesus. The rolling countryside was also represented in these scenes. The three kings with their camels are always depicted.

Here at St. Brigid’s, we can never let a good tradition alone. The St. Brigid’s Presepio starts you in Westbury as you enter the Presepio from the left side of the nave and are greeted by a magnificent structure–the Southwest corner of St. Brigid’s Church (stained glass windows and all!). I doubt there is any Presepio on earth that has this scene. The pastor standing in the doorway “may” look familiar. Just past the church you enter an Italian town. This 17th Century Neapolitan town market with some of the townswomen doing their daily shopping. A few of the local nuns are standing in the side door of the church looking out at the market. In the background is an old castle. Walking up the steps you come to the town well where people may congregate to share some gossip.

As you move along in the town observe the villagers. Spend a few minutes looking through the village. Notice the people. There is a fishmonger, a beggar, a cripple, a leper, bakers, a woman doing the family wash, tradesmen, a rich merchant on a sedan chair and a group of woodsmen leaving the fores– very ordinary town filled with people going about their daily chores with no idea of the great events about to occur.

The first building is the inn. Notice that the doors and shutters on the first floor are closed, as were the doors of the inn for Mary and Joseph. The next building is a portion of a Neapolitan home with a bell tower. The owners are just leaving. Small fountains like the one in front of the house were the sources of water for the household. The third building is a restaurant previously owned by the Gaeta Family but is now under new management. One of the village children is being chased by the innkeeper while two men enjoy a meal and some good conversation. Just beyond the restaurant is a wall from an ancient Roman structure.

On the edge of town is a small footbridge with a stream running under it. A fisherman sits to one side of the stream and a vintner, with his grapes, is coming off the hill. This bridge joins one reality to another. As you cross, you leave behind the indifferent townspeople and meet people with a sense that important events are about to unfold. In a traditional Presepio, as in St. Brigid’s, shepherds, sheep and many exotic animals tended by a Moor and a Turk are portrayed. The shepherds heed the angel’s call. The animals from around the globe indicate that the whole world knows of Jesus' coming. The angels and cherubs on the tree represent the heavenly hosts of Luke’s gospel.
As all roads lead to Rome, all roads in the Presepio lead to the Christ Child. Under the Angel Tree are the ruins of a Roman temple. During Advent there is a man telling stories to children in the temple. The central point of the Presepio is the crib, which is set in Roman ruins–symbolic of the triumph of Christianity over paganism. The Holy Family reaches it on Christmas Eve. By this time, the storyteller and children have left and an adoring Angel, townspeople, shepherds, sheep and other animas’ surround Mary and Joseph.
The Presepio is put up on Election Day each year. It is decorated behind a curtain until Advent. Over forty parishioners participate in the construction, assembly and decoration of the Presepio. The Presepio consists of over three thousand pieces and takes over 2000 people hours to complete each year. The Angel Tree is decorated with twenty-six Angels and thirty Cherubs. There are in excess of one hundred fifty figures of people and animals. All of the figures and most of the animals were made expressly for St. Brigid’s by Mario di Don Francesco of Lecce, Italy.

You have the opportunity to visit our Presepio from the first week of Advent through the last week of January. Please visit often and take the journey of faith yourself.

During the Advent season Mary and Joseph will travel on their donkey, unnoticed, through the town. On the First Sunday of Advent they are by the Church. Each Sunday they travel toward the manger. You can see online to see where they are. Just move your mouse around the persepio to see! It is not until Christmas Eve that they find shelter. The Magi will begin their journey of faith, beginning Christmas Eve and ending on January 6th, traveling from the Church to the crib by way of the town.

As you visit, examine the figures. Do you see yourself in any of them? The Presepio is not only beautiful to behold; it is also a symbol of Christ coming among us to be our Savior. When He joins us at Christmas, make time for Him. Welcome Him into your heart. If you do not see Him it is not because He is not there. It is because you are not looking. Take the time to slow down, open your heart and search for Him in this beautiful season. The splendor and the vastness of the Presepio’s panorama serve to proclaim to the faithful that the Christ Child has been born.

The Christ Child arrives at the scene on Christmas Day. On January 6th, the Magi end their journey at the crib.
“Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those
on whom His favor rests."
~Luke 2