Families flock to see Christmas crib in Limerick church

FAMILIES have been flocking to a city centre church to get a look at its Christmas crib.

St Joseph’s Church in O’Connell Avenue has become something of a Mecca in the run up to the festive season after its nativity scene featured in Angela’s Christmas, a popular animated movie based on a story by Limerick’s own Frank McCourt.

“Here in St Joseph’s, our crib holds a very special place. We’ve had so many children and families coming in to look at it. It’s this crib where Angela took the baby Jesus from,” said parish administrator, Fr Liam Enright referring to a scene in Angela’s Christmas, which is available to view on the video-on-demand platform, Netflix.

“The animation shows Angela coming in and feeling sorry for the baby Jesus as he was cold. At the time, St Joseph’s Church was said to be the coldest in Limerick. Not anymore, thank God,” Fr Enright laughed.

Angela took the baby Jesus to her home, put a warm jumper over him before returning him to the Christmas crib.

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Fr Enright said he was surprised one night after he received a knock on the church door late one night.

“The church was locked up one evening. I heard a knock on the door and this family were looking to see Angela’s crib. They’d come all the way from Cork! It’s wonderful the Christmas story finds such a place in people’s hearts,” added Fr Enright.

Another new tradition has taken hold, with families ditching the idea of visiting the 12 pubs of Christmas, and instead spending time before 12 cribs during the festive season.

“It’s more healthy and wholesome,” Fr Enright said, “It’s wonderful people come in and say a prayer for good luck.”

It was a real team effort to have the crib in place by the time the second week of Advent began, said Fr Enright.

He added: “There was a team of 16 of us here decorating the church for Christmas. It’s always been popular. St Francis of Assisi was the first to create a crib so the Christmas story could reach the multitudes. Now those who believe and celebrate Christmas have them in their homes to remind them of the Holy Family and the Christmas story.”

Angela’s Christmas Wish is based on a book named Angela and the Baby Jesus by Mr McCourt, who died in 2009.

Set in the 1910s, it focuses on Angela’s desire to ensure that everyone is having a great Christmas.