Shrine Seeks Public Participation in Multi-culural Nativity Display

Fr. Salvador Gonzalez, OMI, Director, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

For 54 years the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL has traditionally re-created the Journey to Bethlehem in the popular Way of Lights display.

During Christmas, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows shares the story of Mary and Joseph’s Journey to Bethlehem to over 160,000 people with over 1.5 million lights! We are always looking for distinctive methods to captivate our pilgrims and to share the missions of the Oblates – what better way than to display the many different nativity scenes from around the world of Oblate missions?

This year, we would like to showcase Nativity Scenes from around the world, more specifically from countries where the Oblates are missionaries, and we are asking for your help. Do you have a Nativity Scene you would like to donate to the Shrine?

If selected, we will set up a beautiful display room to showcase your Nativity Scenes along with any information you share and your name as the donor. We will pay for shipping and insurance.

If you are interested, we would love to see a picture of your Nativity Scene for consideration – please contact Beth Mertz at emertz@snows.org or 618-394-6425. 

Help us to make Christmas 2024 and beyond, an even holier time for thousands of families visiting the Shrine.