Holiday Greetings from the Communications Office
As we enter the 2024 Advent season, we reflect on the beauty and significance of the Nativity scene, or Christmas crèche—a cherished tradition that began over 800 years ago. In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi brought the Nativity to life in Greccio, Italy, offering the faithful a moving depiction of the birth of Jesus Christ. This tradition endures as a profound symbol of faith, humility, and the boundless love of God.
To celebrate the Advent season, we are, once again, creating a photo gallery of Christmas crèches from across the Diocese. This gallery will be featured on the NorwichDiocese.org/Advent webpage along with other resources designed to enrich your Advent journey and prepare your heart for Christmas.
In past years, diocesan ministries, offices, churches, and schools have shared beautiful pictures of their Nativity scenes. This year, we are extending the invitation to all readers—let us come together as a diocesan family to reflect on the joy of Christ’s birth.
How to Participate
We invite you to share a photo of your Christmas crèche. Here's how:
- Take a High-Quality Photo:
- Use your camera or smartphone to capture a clear, high-resolution image of your Nativity scene.
- File Format:
- Save the image as a JPEG file for best results.
- Naming Your File:
- Name the file with your family name, location, and the year it was taken (e.g., SmithFamily_NewLondon_2024).
- Email Instructions:
- Send the photo as an attachment to editorial@norwichdiocese.net.
- When sending from an iPhone, select "Actual Size" for the highest resolution.
- Confirmation:
- If you'd like confirmation that we received your photo include a note in your email.
We also encourage you to share this invitation with others in your family, among friends, and within your church groups. Let’s extend the joy of this project and inspire even more people to reflect on the beauty of the season.
By sharing your photo, you’ll help create a beautiful and inspiring collection of crèches that will bring joy to others as we prepare for Christmas.
This Advent, let us come together to share the joy and hope of Christ’s birth with one another through this cherished tradition.
To Prepare Your Heart for the Coming of the Lord
Click here for more Advent resources.
Wishing you a blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas,
The Elves in the Communications Office