by Sr. Anna Finnegan, MMM                                     Ireland                                         27.12.2025

After reading Jo W. Doyle’s Blog on 6/12/25. I was reminded of one Christmas Nativity Play in Irele, Nigeria, in 1991.

In preparation for the Nativity Play we gathered the little children from around the parish and the hospital compound to practice the carols and to act out the story of the birth of Jesus.

I found a big doll, which I painted black and every time we came to gather to practice all of the children wanted to hold it, so as a result the colour on the doll wore off!

When the day came to celebrate Christmas, that morning the gardener made a lovely shelter from sticks. The children got together to decorate it with yellow and purple bougainville. Inside the shelter, the crib for Jesus was a big basket, lined with straw.

We had separate patches on the compound for Mary, kneeling on a mat, and Joseph resting with his lantern and staff, near by. Then the three Kings who were further up at the top end of the Compound waiting with Stella, who was a little daughter of one our kitchen staff. She held a large star on a long stick and was to lead the Kings down to the Crib. Then the Shepherds were beyond the shelter. there were about twenty of them, as we wanted all the children to be included. At one stage, while waiting for their parents and Staff to arrive, some of the children were getting impatient. One little boy came over and said, “The Shepherds are fighting !!” So, we re arranged them so that some Shepherds could go to the back and rest, and the other ten would keep clattering their sticks. as they said they needed to keep rats away from Jesus s Crib…

We had a throng of Angels with little crowns on their heads, and they were to begin singing in their Yoruba language after the Angel Gabriel would come to Joseph with the message to take Mary as his wife.

Just before beginning I had asked Shola, one of our caring staff, if she would slip her newly-born baby into the crib. She had delivered her child in our Maternity, just six weeks before then. She was very happy and she did it so discreetly, without anyone knowing about it

One of the nursing staff began with the reading of the birth of Jesus as the Angel Gabriel came to Joseph, but he did not respond as he was in a deep sleep with the heat of the day. There was a long pause…. Then someone summoned Gabriel to go back and give him a good shaking. It was funny as poor Joseph jumped up and ran over to Mary forgetting his stick and lantern and hardly knew what to do, but it was not long until he got help.

Then The three Angels arrived at the Crib, still singing and dancing. Suddenly the baby made a little whimper and there was pandemonium! The Angels started shouting and jumping around. They could not believe what they were seeing. Then all the children came running out from all over the Compound to see what was happening. Had Jesus come to life?? There was a great confusion and wonder. Everyone was happy and surprised.

We all rejoiced and celebrated together. That Jesus was alive ….and is with us.