Lorraine's Nativities exhibition has to be virtual this year

A small sample of the more than 175 Nativity sets.

When Lorraine Kelly produced an exhibition of over a hundred Nativity sets in Kilcullen Parish Centre last year it was still possible for people to come and visit it, even with Covid, writes Brian Byrne. Donations from the visitors brought in over €1,000 which was divided between the Parish and the Maintain Hope charity.

This year, her collection has grown to over 175 sets, again from all over the world, showing how global is the eternal story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.

However, because of potential insurance liabilities involving Covid, under a Dublin Diocese directive it wasn't possible to hold a public exhibition in Kilcullen this year. But Lorraine and her helpers did set up the now much larger collection in the Parish Centre for one day so it could be photographed.

The results can be viewed here. And there is an opportunity for people who want to donate to do so by making a Credit Transfer to the bank account number at the end of this piece.

The charity partners this year are the Parish and the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, whose missionary sisters help families throughout with primary healthcare, education, and the means to improve their lives in very many ways.

"Our Christmas Appeal is focusing on five African countries," says Sr Geraldine Henry, Mission Development Coordinator at the Daughters of Charity Provincial Headquarters in Dublin. "They are Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. Our work is with people who are living on the margins of Society — people with HIV/Aids, street children, rehabilitation services, and work with people with disabilities."

The Daughters of Charity were established by Vincent de Paul in France in 1633 and today more than 13,000 sisters work in 92 countries throughout the world.

Just a few of the fascinating Nativities collected by Lorraine Kelly are shown at the top of this article. Do go in through the link and view the rest. A video will be produced from the collection later which vill be distributed through social media. 

Here are details of the account for donations.

BIC: BOFIIE2D; IBAN: IE05BOFI 901140 17133045. 

Please mark donations 'The Nativities'.

Sr Geraldine Henry, Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul; Lorraine and Ger Kelly; and Fr Niall Mackey of Kilcullen & Gormanstown Parish.

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