The meaning of Christmas: Restoration of Nativity scene at cathedral transforms lives

For Phil Schouten, the recently restored Nativity scene at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis brings back fond memories of his father, John, an immigrant who came to the United States through the help of the Church, an immigrant who volunteered to set up the crèche each Christmas as a way of giving thanks for the Church’s help to his family. (Photo by John Shaughnessy)

By John Shaughnessy

Count it as one of the wonders of Christmas.

When a church displays a Nativity scene, people are offered a visible reminder of the different journeys that the Holy Family, the shepherds and the three kings made that first Christmas.

And when believers approach the Nativity scene to get a closer look, they make their own Christmas journey, drawing more near to the child who came to save humanity, to the woman who was humble enough to accept God’s will and strong enough to live it, and to the man who put the needs of his wife and his child before his own.

Sometimes, those Christmas journeys take an even more personal turn—a reality that happened to three individuals who were involved in the recent restoration and conservation of one of the most beautiful Nativity scenes in the archdiocese.

During the past year, extensive efforts were made to transform the Nativity scene at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis to the original luster and beauty it had when it was first displayed in the Cathedral about 90 years ago.

In the process, the lives of three people intimately involved in that transformation were touched and transformed, too.

Here are the stories of these three people, stories steeped in the meaning of Christmas.

A new life for a source of inspiration

The person who knows the most about the Nativity scene at the cathedral just may be Joseph Vitale, a longtime member of the parish and the unofficial tour guide and historian of the Cathedral.

His passion for the Nativity scene shows in the tears that fill his eyes when he talks about the importance of restoring the Nativity scene to its original beauty.

“I’ve been interested in getting this restored since 1990,” he says. “I’ve been setting the figures in place every Christmas for the last 10 years or so. There are 24 pieces, and it was purchased in the 1920s or even earlier in Rome by Father Joseph Ritter when he was a parish priest here. He later became the first archbishop of Indianapolis and a cardinal [in the Archdiocese of St. Louis]. During Ritter’s tenure here, he was very social justice-oriented.”

That focus shows in the Nativity scene, Vitale says.

“This Nativity has figures that are very ethnic,” Vitale says. “Traditionally, Nativity sets have one king of the three who’s black. And this one has four figures that are black. There are also obvious Arab and Semitic-featured figures. That’s important. When this was first installed, there were a lot of signs in the city that said ‘no Irish, no blacks, no Catholics.’ The city and state of Indiana were run by the Ku Klux Klan then. This was quite a social statement for its time.”

Vitale also has a personal connection to the Nativity scene.

“When I was a little kid, we lived in Hope, Indiana,” recalls Vitale, who is 57. “My mother would bring us to Indianapolis to shop and look at the animated windows at Ayres, Block’s and Wasson. My mother would make side trips to the local downtown churches to view the different Nativity sets. That was my first exposure to this. We always knelt in front of it. It was more like a pilgrimage.”

He encourages people to visit the restored Nativity scene. It will be on display through Jan. 11, the day which marks the baptism of Jesus.

“We’d like to encourage visitors because this is the mother church of the archdiocese,” he says. “The full scene, with the Holy Family, will be on display from Christmas Eve to Jan. 11. What’s important for Catholics to remember is that this is not just a piece of furniture. It’s a source of inspiration and a great piece of art. It’s one of the grandest Nativity scenes in the surrounding area.”

A family connection

As he stands by the Nativity scene in the cathedral, Phil Schouten remembers another family who once made a long journey sparked by faith, hope and love.

“My parents and my five older brothers and sisters immigrated to the United States from Holland in 1957,” Schouten says.

“The Catholic Church helped them relocate to Indianapolis. My father loved the Church for all it had done to provide a better opportunity for his family. As a way of giving back to the Church, my dad was very involved in the Cathedral, and he did a lot of work around the church, particularly in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.”

One of his father’s major volunteer efforts was setting up the Nativity scene during the Advent season.

“It was a whole day affair or two,” recalls Schouten, a member of the Cathedral Parish. “My brothers would help, and kids from the grade school at Cathedral would help. It was something we looked forward to every year. It was quite an event. The church would order 40 to 50 Christmas trees, and they had to be put up around the Nativity scene. We worked from seven in the morning to seven at night. It meant a lot to my father.”

It’s touched Phil Schouten, too. His father, John, died about two years ago, near the time when Cathedral parish announced plans to restore the Nativity scene to its original condition. Schouten immediately asked to be part of the parish committee charged with hiring the artists to conserve and restore the scene, and raise money for the effort.

“I grew up with this. I wanted to honor my dad. It was important for me to be involved,” Schouten says softly, his voice tinged with emotion. “After all those years of dirt and grime, and pieces being missing, it’s been an amazing transformation to watch. The colors stand out. The details are amazing. It’s authentic.”

Schouten helped to set up the restored Nativity scene in early December. His daughter, Emily, worked by his side. His brothers helped, too.

“Still, to this day, we talk about the days of putting it up with Dad. He would be very humbled to see what it looks like now.”

Restoring the beauty and the wonder

Jean Marie Easter spent much of this past year cleaning and repairing the wooden figures that make up the Nativity scene at the Cathedral.

Most of the ears and some of the horns on the animals had to be replaced. Missing fingers and arms on the human figures needed to be created and attached seamlessly. The frame on the painting that serves as the backdrop for the Nativity scene required fixing and restoring.

Easter shared the meticulous conservation effort with Sharon Battista, a friend and former colleague from the Indianapolis Museum of Art. While Easter focused on the woodwork, Battista concentrated on painting the figures to their original luster.

“This was really enjoyable,” says Battista, the owner of S. D. Battista Paintings Conservation, Inc. “I was very sad to see it end, but I’m happy to see the Nativity scene together again.”

So is Easter.

“It’s overwhelming,” says Easter, a member of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Indianapolis and the owner of Easter Conservation Services.

“Anytime you work on something like this, you always get a sense that your talent is being used. When you work with your hands, it’s very special. Whenever you’re able to create beauty and art, it’s not just you. There’s a sort of a spiritual quality in something that’s created. There are certain times when I’m doing something and I cross myself and say, ‘I hope this goes well.’ And it does. I bring God into my work every day.”

Easter’s efforts on the Nativity scene have also had the subtle impact of focusing her attention deeper on the meaning of the first Christmas.

“The crèche makes you a little more aware of what Christmas is all about—the birth of Christ,” Easter says. “Maybe more so this year, it’s about giving thanks for the people in your life, and the people who have been a part of your life.

“It brings you back to your humble roots. Here’s a woman who gave birth to her child in a manger because there was no room for her in the inn. It does reduce everything to basics, to the fundamental issues of how you live your life, what’s important and where you put your values. Now that it’s closer to Christmas, those are the kinds of things you’re made to think about.” †