Please help the Camaras with our Christmas Crèche setup!
Your work helps our parish share the joy of Christ’s birth with all who visit, creating a space that draws hearts to the mystery of the Incarnation.
Safe Environment Training can be completed at archgh.org/ocyp. You may also check and download your certificates at this link.
Email sign up and questions to Mary Camara at seahouse1@att.net.
Transport Creche
Friday, December 19th, Mike wants to meet helpers at the Cathedral Centre. It is at Jefferson at San Jacinto. The parking lot is on Jefferson next to the building. The creche storage is in the basement and we access it through the loading dock. Mike has rented a U-Haul (with an appliance dolly to facilitate moving the statues). The creche items will be unloaded at the Church with the statues placed in the choir access vestibule and the wooden pieces placed in the Reconciliation room near St. Joseph's altar.
Gloves are helpful as the wooden crates the statues are packed in are rough plywood.
Setup Creche
Saturday, December 20th, we will meet around 9am - following 8am Mass. The platform for the creche takes about an hour to put together (cordless drill with Philips head screw driver bit helpful). St. Joseph's altar statue is covered with a blue/gray cloth. The frame for the creche and roof (including the chicken wire) take about another hour. So 9-11am this work will be the main focus.
Smaller tasks can be done during this time, also: opening the crates (lambs, donkey, cow, shepherds - 2 crates, Blessed Mother with manger); placing the long wooden dowel through the top of the green curtain; testing the lights to eliminate strands that have broken light bulbs; etc. Drill with screw driver heads will make the crate opening much easier.
Attaching the chicken wire is easier with a power stapler (3/8 inch staples). Attaching lights (zip ties) and "rock colored"paper (regular stapler) do not require a lot of muscle. Adding moss to crevices comes next. This takes about 2 hours (11am-2pm - lunch break at noon).
Placing the statues in the creche does require strength as they must be lifted about 3 ft up onto the creche platform. 2-3pm
Curtain is placed to cover nativity scene until Christmas Eve and cleanup should be completed by 4pm so that area is ready for the Vigil Mass.
Times are approximate. Thanks for helping,
Mike and Mary Camara
Creche Breakdown
Date TBD - Jan 2026 - Disassemble creche after 8 am Mass (Heavy lifting - Adults/Teens)
Date TBD - Jan 2026 - Remove paper and lights (Kid-friendly / Families welcome)
Date TBD - Jan 2026 - Stuff crates with pillows and plastic bubble wrap (Kid-friendly / Families welcome)
Date TBD - Jan 2026 - Return pieces back to the Cathedral Centre (Heavy lifting – Adults/Teens)