When Catholics (and others) come across Nativity scenes around the Diocese of Wilmington in the next few weeks, they can thank the original Franciscan, St. Francis of Assisi, who carved the first depiction of Jesus’ birth into rock inside a cave in Italy 800 years ago.
The Diocese of Wilmington is the home of approximately 60 religious men and women who belong to various congregations that follow the Franciscan charism. They serve in a number of ministries, including education, health care, social services and parish ministry, said Sister Ann David Strohminger, herself a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia and the delegate for religious in the diocese.
They are joined by the Poor Clares, a cloistered congregation that lives in downtown Wilmington, and the Sisters of the Infant Jesus, a group of Indian sisters who work at the Ministry of Caring. Male congregations include the Capuchin Franciscans, who in addition to the Ministry of Caring also minister at St. Francis of Assisi Priory in north Wilmington. Until a few years ago, the Order of Friars Minor also had a presence in the diocese, staffing St. Paul’s and St. Joseph on French Street, both in Wilmington.
Sister Ann David said the Franciscan Sisters are adapting to lesser numbers.
“One of the good things that we have always done is evolve with the needs of the church and the cultures that we live in. I think that is what we will continue to do,” she said.
She said relationships are “very much” a part of the Franciscan charism, and that ties into the Nativity scene at Greccio.
“When we look at Christmas and Greccio and what our lives are about, it’s about our lives and how we share that with other people,” she said.
Francis of Assisi believed that people needed to be reminded of how loving and merciful God is, so he established the Christmas creche. He preached at a midnight Mass after gathering the people of the village to form a procession, singing carols before the service.
Sister Ann David has been to Greccio and was struck by the scenes of St. Francis dressed as a deacon bending over the creche. There is also a picture there of Mary breastfeeding the infant Jesus.
“You can’t get much more visceral than those photos,” she said. “That’s what Francis wanted. He wanted to create a living Nativity scene to celebrate Jesus’ birth.”
She added that Greccio also has the vision of the animals, the smell of the hay, and the sounds of the baby and the shepherd. It is supposed to be a very sensual experience. The whole miracle of the incarnation shows the beauty of interdependence, she added.
