Christmas is a time to share our blessings.  For us at Navidad Nativities, our blessing this year came in the form of a large scale commemorative nativity for the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven, Connecticut, the Museum and Learning Center for the Knights of Columbus.  In 1882, Father Michael J. McGivney, along with several members of the church, founded the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven.  Over time, the Knights of Columbus has grown in its philanthropic outreach annually supporting more than 800 Catholic charities and causes.

Father McGivney died at the young age of 38 and since then has been responsible for a number of favors through prayer.  In March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI declared him “Venerable” in recognition of his “heroic virtue” and in 2020 was approved for Beatification by Pope Francis.

In 2023, St. Mary’s Church became the seat of the city-wide Blessed Michael McGivney Parish operating all 8 Catholic churches in New Haven.

The team at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center, under the direction of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus requested a Nativity celebrating the 1882 founding of the Knights of Columbus as part of their annual Nativity Exhibition.

The exhibit “Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes” opened on November 9, 2024 at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center, 1 State Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.

Travel down Hillhouse Avenue on a crisp winter evening in 1882.  A light snow had fallen as the members of New Haven gather at St. Mary’s Church to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass.  It was the 9^th Christmas celebrated at St. Mary’s and the 1^st since the Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in the lower level of the church.  The Nativity of Jesus Christ stands in the plaza in front of St. Mary’s Church under the graceful arched sanctuary, a replica of the Church’s interior with Father McGivney climbing the steps to the manger.

Joining Father McGivney to celebrate the birth of the Savior are founding member Knights James T. Mullen (1^st Supreme Knight), Cornelius Driscoll and other early members, an elder statesman and his wife climbing from their carriage, and the women and children representing the founding principle to care for and mentor those families of deceased members from the poor to the wealthy, as well as the immigrants and workers of the Connecticut community.  Also celebrating Christmas with Father McGivney are Pope Leo XIII, leader of the Catholic Church (1878-1903) who recognized the Knights of Columbus in 1895, Bishop Lawrence McMahon of the Diocese of Hartford who gave permission to organize as well as a Dominican Friar and Nun whose order cared for St. Mary’s Church from 1886-2023.

This creche incorporates elements of St. Mary’s Church as it would have looked in 1882, the year in which the Knights of Columbus was founded.  The church’s stone façade and gothic-style interior, the old church yard and gravel street lined with Pin Oak trees and bollards with chain, the period street lamps, and the evening sky are also accurate to the atmosphere of that Christmas night.  Townspeople, dressed in period clothing are drawn to the Nativity in the plaza just as Catholics have done since 1223 in Greccio, Italy where St. Francis became the first priest to celebrate Christ’s Nativity.  A stone from Greccio in the corner of the scene honors the tradition that has continued for more than 800 years.

This Nativity measures 6’6″ wide x 3’4″ deep x 3’2″ tall and features figures by Original Heide in the 8″ or 20cm scale.

Designed by Navidad Nativities, Inc. – Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 2024

This project was made possible through the extraordinary collaborative partnerships with the following artists:

Original Heide (Figures), Mezalick Design Studios (Replicas of St. Mary’s Church and Sanctuary), Dot Bunn, OPA (Mural), Kulp Model Horse Store (Spring Wagon Carriage), ULPE Wood Art (Wooden Accessories)

Special Thanks to: The New Haven Museum, St. Mary’s Church, Jennifer Gershon Photography and Glencairn Museum.

Timelapse Installation Video Courtesy of the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center/Tiffany Locke.