Photos

Group raising money to repair Nativity scene in Daley Plaza

Members of the God Squad‚ a team of volunteers from Chicago-area parishes, assembled the Nativity at Daley Plaza on Nov. 27, 2021. The annual tradition, now in its 36th year, is the only traditional display of the Nativity Scene in downtown Chicago’s public square. The group has launched a fundraising campaign to restore the statues and replace the major portions of the scene, some of which are over 30 years old. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Ed O’Malley, coordinator of the Chicago Nativity Scene Committee and a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Prospect Heights, holds a picture set-up for the creche to guide volunteers in positioning the figures. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers move the figures around. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Vincent Aluise hangs up Christmas lights near the star. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers hang lights and connect the electricity for the scene. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A member of the God Squad secures a portion of the creche. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Patrick and Brian Howe string lights on one of the live Christmas trees in the scene. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The statue of Baby Jesus is chipped and needs restoration. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The statue of Mary is in need of repair. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The paint is chipped on the statue of St. Joseph. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The group has launched a campaign to restore the Nativity scene and replace portions such as this wiring on this fence and the wood in the fence, which is 40 years old. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Leo Aluise (center) joined Joseph and Jonathan Lam, parishioners at St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview (on both ends), and Liam Nelson, a member of St. Emily Parish, to spread straw. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Joseph Lam, a parishioner at St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview, helps spread straw. It is a tradition that the children and grandchildren of the God Squad spread the straw throughout the creche at the end. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Liam Nelson, a member of St. Emily Parish in Mount Prospect, helps spread straw throughout the Nativity scene. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Ramil Fajardo, rector of the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Lincoln Park, says a few words before the blessing. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Surrounded by children, Father Stephen Lesniewski from California blesses the Nativity scene. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The Nativity scene is complete. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the God Squad pose for a photo after the service. Many are in the trades and have passed the tradition of assembling the Nativity scene down to their children and grandchildren. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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