By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
The lay ministry group, Escoger (Choose), staged a living Nativity at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Miami the weekend of Dec. 9-11. Organizers hope it will be an annual event. The ministry focuses on the evangelization of children.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Jose Alfredo Camen, two months old, plays baby Jesus and Reinaldo Rodriquez plays Joseph and Maria Elena Rodriquez plays Mary in the living Nativity staged by the Escoger group at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
The realistic re-creation included an outdoor village where Escoger members sold food and other items, including Colombian empanadas.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
As part of the living Nativity, donkey owner Nicholas Toledo, left, gave out rides to visitors. The rider in this case is Alexandra Holguin of St. Louis Parish.
The Nativity included a two-month-old baby Jesus, played by Jose Alfredo Camen, donkey rides for the children and a first-century Middle East village where visitors could even buy Colombian empanadas.
Escoger, led by Roberto Toledo, is active at Our Lady of Lourdes and Mother of Christ parishes. The ministry focuses on the evangelization of children throughout the archdiocese, and coordinates two-day retreats for them in English and Spanish.
Their hope is that the living Nativity will become an annual tradition to help remind people that �Jesus is the reason� for the Christmas season.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Escoger members sing Christmas carols during the living Nativity.
