PROVIDENCE — For more than 20 years creating the famed presepio, or Italian Nativity scene, at St. Ann Church has been a labor of love for Vincenzo Santarmarco.
At 77, Santamarco, is long retired from his days working in the construction trades as a mason. But he brings these and other mechanical skills to life in assembling a fully motorized Nativity scene, with much of its character inspired by his native town of Fontegreca, Italy.
“I’ll keep doing this until I can’t do it anymore,” says Santamarco, who works part time at the parish, but labors after hours on evenings and weekends for about three weeks each year to construct the hillside scene, one which won’t be completed until Christmas Eve, when a baby Jesus is placed in a cave manger representing the Savior’s humble beginnings in Bethlehem.
“A lot of people are happy to see this each year,” he says of the motorized village, which features residents at work making cheese and grinding wheat, even dancing and fishing in a small pond.
“The kids, they are so happy, they don’t want to go home after Mass,” Santamarco smiles.
St. Ann Pastor Father Albert D. Ranallo Jr., grew up in the church neighborhood, attending his home parish, and for more than two decades has witnessed Santamarco share the true spirit of Christmas each year through his work.
“It activates the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of love, peace and joy. You can see it in the faces of the people who come in and stare at the scene and take it all in. They really take it into their hearts too, not just their eyes. It’s really a moving sentimental piece, a Christmas monument, if you will that brings people together.
The precepio is illuminated and motorized before and after each Mass and all are welcome to visit the church to view it. The scene will remain in the church vestibule through at least mid-January.
