By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

The freedom to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in the public square was enthusiastically celebrated in front of the New Jersey State House in Trenton Dec. 12.

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Coming from parishes around the Diocese, hundreds gathered to pray, sing Christmas carols, mark the imminent birth of our Savior and witness the blessing of a crèche on the State House lawn.

Pulpit announcements and social media posts helped swell the crowd to about 300 people, said Paul Donini, president of the Knights’ Trenton Diocese Federation.

“It’s a wonderful thing to see so many believers out here proclaiming Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior,” Donini said. “It’s our biggest crowd in 20 years.”

The annual crèche blessing, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, dates back at least to the mid-1980s, according to Jerry Iacona of the Knights’ Allentown Council. This year was the first to include children’s choirs from St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown, and Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton.

The combined children’s choirs sang Christmas hymns before the glass-enclosed crèche, with many members of the crowd joining in. Police redirected traffic around the group, which overflowed into the busy roadway.

Debbie Rauscher, a parishioner in St. John the Baptist, was one of many in festive holiday attire who held a cellphone aloft to capture the choirs’ performance.

“My daughter, Megan, is singing,” Rauscher said, sporting a pink, fur-trimmed Santa hat. “She told me that it’s important to celebrate Jesus’ birthday and be with family. I know that this is one of the few State Houses in the country that still allows [a crèche]. It’s important to keep it going.”

Jean Gomba, who had accompanied the Knights’ Color Corps to the annual event from St. John the Baptist, said that the ceremony was a reminder of the reason behind the holiday season. “We need to keep Christ in Christmas. There is too much commercialism, and not enough true spirit,” she said.

A bagpiper led the Knights’ Color Corps from the steps of the Statehouse to the crèche, and Msgr. James Innocenzi, diocesan judicial vicar and Knights chaplain, sprinkled it with holy water and said a blessing.

St. John the Baptist’s pastor, Father Brian Woodrow, who serves as chaplain of its Knights of Columbus council, proclaimed the Gospel story describing the humble birth of Jesus in the manger, then addressed the crowds.

“This reminds us that Christ is coming to the world in Trenton, our capital. This event honors traditions and faith, and brings hope to the world,” Father Woodrow said. “The media is filled with the news of gloom and doom lately, but you come out here and think, ‘This is what it’s all about.’”

Knights of Columbus Past State Deputy Dan Rossi, a parishioner in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, echoed the priest’s words.

“This is unbelievable,” he said, gesturing to the large crowd of attendees.

“This is the best message as to what the season is about. It is a time of forgiving and mercy, and in this Year of Mercy, this turnout shows the Trenton Church is alive and well,” Rossi said. “We all need His forgiveness, we all need his mercy.”

Nanci Bachman, pastoral associate of adult faith formation in St. David the King, West Windsor, also had mercy on her mind as she reflected upon the trip to the state capital with 80 fellow parishioners in two busses. She predicted the trip to the Trenton crèche, with a lunch in the parish hall upon their return, will become a new parish tradition.

“What a great community event. This is the Year of Mercy, and what a wonderful way to start the year with a pilgrimage to Trenton,” Bachman said. “Jesus is drawing near. This was a great opportunity to go.”