Seasonal & Holidays

See This Ridgewood Church's 'Awe-Inspiring' Nativity Scene

"A magnificent crèche at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood stands out for its sprawling, intricate design," officials said.

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Parishioner Lourdes Ordonez led the creche’s design process with the assistance of Fr. Anthony Palombo and numerous other parish community members.
Parishioner Lourdes Ordonez led the creche’s design process with the assistance of Fr. Anthony Palombo and numerous other parish community members. (Courtesy Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood)

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — After the COVID-19 pandemic forced congregations to refrain from celebrating Christmas in-person last year, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark are making plans to help ensure their parishioners enjoyed a special Christmas holiday in 2021.

That includes the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, which created what the Archdiocese called a "sprawling" and "awe-inspiring" nativity scene.

"A magnificent crèche at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood stands out for its sprawling, intricate design," the Archdiocese said.

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"Almost entirely handcrafted, the crèche depicts the whole story of Christmas — from the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, through Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus’ departure for Egypt. Visitors can spend hours admiring the scene’s many details, including a running waterfall and live goldfish."

Check out some photos of the scene below:

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