St. Lucy's Church in Newark, New Jersey at Christmas

St. Lucy's Church in Newark, New Jersey has preserved many of the traditions of the Italian immigrants who founded the parish in 1891. Generations of families have worshipped here and have been strengthened by the teachings of Jesus Christ and by the examples of the lives of the saints. The third pastor, Msgr. Joseph Granato, has served the parish with his dedication and faith for 54 years. The traditions of St. Lucy's now continue under the leadership of Fr. Luigi Zanotto. The parish namesake, Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia), martyred in Syacuse (Siracusa) in third-century Sicily, is the patron of those afflicted with diseases of the eyes. The church is the National Shrine of Saint Gerard Maiella, who lived in eighteenth-century Italy. He has a special devotion from expectant mothers. In 1899, immigrants from Caposele, Italy introduced the annual October feast in honor of St. Gerard, which continues to be a highlight for the parish each year. Another cherished tradition, depicted in this video, is that of the Christmas Presepio, an elaborate Neapolitan Nativity scene with "the Bambino" (the infant Jesus) surrounded by a multitude of figures including Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and wise men, as well as, the people of the town of Bethlehem engaged in their everyday activities. (There is even a figure of a woman carrying a plate of pasta to the manger, symbolic of the wonderful hospitality of generations of St. Lucy's parishoners.) These photos were all taken on January 6, 2008, the Feast of the Epiphany. The background music is Adeste Fideles, Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, and Ave Maria. Adeste fideles Laeti triumphantes Venite, venite in Bethlehem Natum videte Regem angelorum Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus Dominum En, grege relicto, Humiles ad cunas, Vocati pastores approperant; Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus. Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus Dominum Adeste fideles Laeti triumphantes Venite, venite in Bethlehem Natum videte Regem angelorum Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus Dominum