Proclaiming Christ's Birth

Sister Frances Ann Eveler knows all about starting small.
“I have always loved nativity sets. My first sets were from family and a few classmates.  When I began ministry in missions’ education in 1993, I was doing some cleaning and I found several nativity sets that had been donated to the missions’ office when SSND communities closed. The sets were beautiful and I decided to display a few outside my office. When people realized my love for nativities, they started appearing. A set from Mexico appeared on my desk one day. I still have no idea where it came from!

“My current collection consists of 100 Nativity sets and 77 Nativity ornaments. Thirty five countries are represented in the collection from across Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and South America, North America and the Middle East. See a sampling of Sister Frances Ann's collection.

“Most of the materials are native to the country of origin. Some scenes are indicative of the country’s culture. For example, in Uganda red is the color of royalty. In that nativity set, Jesus is wrapped in red cloth. The set from Nigeria is carved from native thornwood; a Kenyan set is carved from soapstone; and a set from Honduras is constructed out of cornhusks. One of the more original sets I have was made by school children out of tongue depressors and clothespins. Another set is made completely out of nails and screws. The figures in my smallest set are ½ inch tall. The figures in the largest set are about 12-14 inches tall.”

All the nativity sets are catalogued and each displayed set shares its country of origin and the type of material it is made of. “One day,” says Sister Frances Ann, “I hope to put together a small booklet that contains photos, information and stories about each nativity set and ornament.”

Sister Frances Ann’s full collection will be on public display at the Holiday Open House at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis, Mo., January 10 and 11.

For more information on the Holiday Open House
See a sampling of Sister Frances Ann's collection.