The Nativity scene outside of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul following the 2024 Blessing of the Nativity Scene.
The Catholic Church of Philadelphia will mark a beloved Advent tradition with the 29th annual Blessing of the Nativity Scene on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 2:00 p.m. Reverend Dennis Gill, Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and Director of the Office for Divine Worship, will preside at the ceremony. The outdoor crèche, set on the Cathedral lawn at 18th and Race Streets in Philadelphia, serves as a public witness to the joy and hope of Christ’s birth.
The celebration is organized each year by the Christmas Crèche Committee and supported by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus. Adding to the festive spirit, students from Saint Francis Xavier Parish Elementary School in Fairmount will offer traditional Christmas carols.
The event is free and open to all, inviting the faithful and the wider community to gather in prayer and song as Christmas approaches.
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