On Christmas Day, 1928, Msgr. Joseph Smith, pastor of the Cathedral, blessed the creche at the 5:00 a.m. Mass. It was a gift of Bishop Joseph Schrembs who had ordered it from Sebastian Osterrieder, a Munich artist and member of the Munich Academy of Art. Osterrieder is an acknowledged master of the crib and creche art form.
The artist traveled to the Holy Land to gather precise topographical details before beginning work on this masterpiece. The Universe Bulletin article of Dec. 21, 1928 discussed the Christmas creche as an art form and religious masterpiece.
St. Francis of Assisi is credited with originating the Christmas creche. WIshing to give his community a new and memorable Christmas, he created a creche to serve as a background and altar for Christmas Mass celebrated in a cave in the 1223.
According to the writer, use of the creche had much in common with the purposes of both Passion and Mystery Plays.
The writer stated that Italy, and in particular Naples, became the center of the creche artistry. The greatest artist of them all was Giuseppe Sanmartino who lived from 1720 - 1793. His figures were known for their rich baroque style, their realism, and the profound religiosity which animates all aspects of his work.
Mr. Osterrieder was held to be his equal. Previous opinion had held that the Italian's work was matchless. A Dr. Rudolf Berliner of the Bavarian National Museum who prepared a definitive book on Christmas creches, Monuments of Crib Art, held that Osterrieder was the only one whose work could be compared to Mr. Sanmartino's.
The position of the Christmas Scene in the old Cathedral (until 1945) was on the North side of the Sanctuary Area.
In the newly rebuilt Cathedral (1948), the scene was placed on the south side of the Sanctuary where the present Blessed Sacrament Altar is positioned.
The Christmas scene was moved after the sanctuary was renovated in 1977 by Bishop James A. Hickey. The following years found the scene sized down. It has resided in the Mortuary Chapel, the Blessed Mother's Altar, and finally in its present position on the north side of the Sanctuary.
In 1989, the canvas backdrop was replaced with a wooden arch depicting the Christmas Star in a night-time sky. This was designed and executed by Mr. Edward Slusarski. He also made stands for the buildings and surrounding scene.
Some of the original figures were destroyed in a basement flood some years ago. In 1989 we discovered an identical Mary, Joseph, and Child Jesus at Best Printing. Mr. Anthony Capasso kindly donated the figures to the Christmas scene.
The more recently acquired figures of the three kings are not made in the same way as the older figures, but greatly resemble the original pieces.
The scene has a rich history and is truly a part of the Christmas celebration at St. John's Cathedral.
Donations at the Creche will benefit the needy in the Holy Land.