By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami consists of multiple scenes from the Nativity story. The nativity features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami consists of multiple scenes from the Nativity story. The nativity features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami consists of multiple scenes from the Nativity story. The nativity features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
Jose Martinez puts the finishing touches on the Nativity scene at Gesu Church in Miami. Jose and his wife Maria have assembled the Nativity at Gesu for the last two years.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
Photography: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC
MIAMI | The Nativity story is small, yet it has grown year by year – at least on tabletop sets designed by a South Florida couple.
Three sheets of plywood stretch along the parish hall at Gesu Church, setting the scene for the first Christmas as visualized by José and Maria Martinez of Kendall. They’ve been adding to the scene year by year for more than four decades.
The display, presented along with a Nativity play by religious education students at Gesu, features three sections measuring 16 feet by 8 feet, with approximately 1,500 figurines. They depict the Nativity events in Nazareth and Jerusalem as well as Bethlehem.
“We like to incorporate scenes that we imagine were common in the times of the Nativity story, from the annunciation, to St. Joseph’s dream about Herod’s intention that made him flee to Egypt and more,” José said.
Photographer: Lourdes Martinez | FC
The Nativity at Gesu Church in Miami features 1500 figurines and took close to 50 working hours to assemble.
The set is a family heritage for José, who said his relatives set up large Nativity sets in their home in Cuba. Even his grandmother built Nativity scenes back in Spain he added. So when he and Maria married, building their own version was a natural.
“It’s in my DNA,” said José, 79.
They built their first Nativity scene in their house in Miami, then in Puerto Rico after they moved there. They returned to Miami four years ago, creating the Nativity scenes off and on.
They began small, with a display six by eight feet, then growing it year by year. They’ve bought figurines from Spain and Italy, as well as making some themselves.
José, however, credits his wife as “the real artist,” saying he does the “handiwork” like adding 500 pounds of sand. He also acts as a guide, answering questions for viewers who drop in after Sunday Mass or special events.
A couple of years ago, they got a home visit from Jesuit Father Eduardo Alvarez, pastor at Gesu and José’s spiritual advisor for more than 35 years. Seeing the Nativity display, he invited the Martinezes to bring it to Gesu.
The project this year took 48 hours over several days, but “we love doing this,” José said. “We spend the entire year preparing for this moment.”
He hopes the display will bless viewers even after they leave. “Christmas can be a happy or sad season. This (Nativity scene) is a message of hope and happiness.”
The Nativity scene is scheduled to be shown at Gesu through Jan. 9.
Florida Catholic freelancer Jim Davis contributed to this story.
