MARIA STEIN – From Dec. 1 though Jan. 7, 2019, The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics is hosting a Nativity exhibit from the collection of Tim and Katheleen Nealeigh titled “Modern Takes on a Timeless Theme.”
“I purchased my first nativity in 1965 when I was teaching in Northern Illinois,” Tim Nealeigh said. “On my way to the train station, I passed a religious store and paid the equivalent of a month’s salary. I still have that set on display.”
His second set was purchased shortly after in France, but it wasn’t until the boom of the internet and eBay in the ’90s that the Nealeigh’s collection really started to grow.
The Nativities this year range from those made out of kitchen utensils complete with corkscrew angel to a set that was glazed with horse hair, which burned artfully when the figures were fired.
“In sharing these lovely scenes with friends and family, we hope visitors will enjoy the contemporary ways various cultures have chosen to depict the birth of the Lord,” said Matt Hess, director of hospitality at the Shrine, “even if that means the three kings are riding Segways bearing Amazon boxes while Joseph gets the first ever Christmas selfie with his family.”
Since the first nativity scene was developed by Saint Francis of Assisi, people have been putting their own spin on the birth of Christ. This display of nativities showcases the various ways the Jesus’ birth has been interpreted. This year’s collection especially takes viewers out of the Bethlehem stable and into the ordinary circumstances of their contemporary lives and tastes.
Guests can enjoy this display during normal Shrine Hours through Jan. 7, 2019, but it will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. There is no charge to experience the nativities display; however, a free will offering will be accepted.
The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics provides faith nourishment and spiritual renewal through opportunities for prayer and pilgrimage and inspiration from the lives of the saints. People from around the world visit the shrine to explore and enjoy this environment rich in holiness and history. The Relic Chapel is home to the second largest collection of relics of the saints in the United States.
The Shrine is located at 2291 St. John’s Road in Maria Stein. To learn more about the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, visit www.mariasteinshrine.org or call 419-925-4532.
