By Andrew Hackmack
But during the past four weeks, thousands of people have flocked to the church to see the nativity scene created by Rev. Jerry Cestare.
This year, Cestare added about 25 new figures and a few new buildings to the display. It was also bigger than ever before, he said, and the lighting was improved to make it brighter. The pews are removed on the right side of the altar to make room for the display. "We're lucky because we have a big church, so we can afford to lose a little seating," Cestare said.
Cestare, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, created the presepio for the fifth time at the church and his 20th time overall. He said the purpose is to remind everyone of the true spirit of Christmas.
The manger scene is at the center of the display. It is surrounded by literally thousands of figurines and buildings to show what life was like when Jesus was born. Cestare said this represents God's humbleness -- that while life was going on, he became one of them.
The construction of the display took about two months, Cestare said. It basically starts from scratch every year.
A new backdrop is created each time. Cestare said that it is about 100 feet of sheetrock and impossible to preserve for the next year. An air brush artist comes in and paints the sky. When it comes time to put in the buildings and figures, Cestare said he has to work from the back to the front, and fortunately has help from parishioners and members of the church's youth group. "Every single piece is put in by hand," he said.
Cestare said many of the youth group members who help come back day after day. He said it is very meaningful to see that they "get it" when it comes to the true meaning of the Christmas season.
The display runs through Jan. 11 and then it will be time to take it apart. Cestare estimates that it will be at least of month before it is all put away. Everything must be handled very delicately. "Some of those pieces are 100 years old," he said, "so they have to be wrapped very carefully."
Some of the pieces will be back for next year's display; others won't. Cestare said he tries to use different buildings each year to give it a fresh look. There's no shortage of pieces to choose from. "We've tried to do inventory but we've lost count," he said. "There are thousands and thousands. I have enough to do it a second time."
Cestare said one of his favorite elements is the running water which makes the scene feel alive. Another is a building that was made by his grandfather. A little secret, Cestare said, is that the dome on top of the building was actually made using his great-grandmother's pasta strainer.
For next year, Cestare said he is considering building a new stable for the manger scene.
Blessed Sacrament parishioner Martha Zola said she looks forward to Cestare's Christmas presepio every year. "It's magnificent," she said. "Every day I'm here at the church I go visit it and I see more than I did the day before."
Ida D'Angelo, a parishioner since 1965, echoed that feeling. "I always come back and look at it some more," she said, "because there's always something you miss."
D'Angelo said the presepio is one of the most beautiful things she has ever seen. She likes that it serves as a learning tool, especially for children, of what life was like 2000 years ago.
Vinny Ang, a lifelong parishioner, has helped with the presepio's construction since Cestare started it at Blessed Sacrament. Over the past few years, Ang has helped build the arch at the front of the display. "Everybody does a little piece of it," he said of the whole display.
The final product, Ang said, is amazing. "It's just beautiful," he said. "I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. It puts you in the spirit."
Cestare said countless people have come through the church to see the display over the past month. He noted that people from parishes across Long Island have visited, especially families with young kids. His farthest visitor came from Parma, Italy, as the man was staying locally with family for the holidays.
The pastor said the many of the visitors come back every year. "For some," Cestare said, "it's become part of their Christmas tradition."
