“Everything is possible for him who believes.” - M A RK 9:23
CRYSTAL MIRACLES As they crossed campus, magical in snow and light, USF visitors believed — in the miracle of the first Christmas, in things reborn and the infinite possibilities in the starry sky.
The university enjoyed large crowds for its traditional Christmas at USF celebration throughout December. Over 2,700 visitors took advantage of Christmas in the Castle, a self-guided tour of restored Brookside, decked out in holiday trimmings and lights by local florists and decorators. Young and old relished the building’s splendor and sumptuous details, the result of a two-year, $6 million fundraising and restoration project. Adjacent Mirror Lake enhanced the scene’s magical quality with Lighting of the Lake, when luminaries dedicated to loved ones, their memories, or their special occasions encircled its shoreline as a shining symbol of Christmas. With the lake lit as a backdrop, viewers sensed the awe of the first Christmas at a live Nativity scene staged near the Pope John Paul II Center. The event honored a tradition dating to 1223 in Greccio, Italy, in which Francis of Assisi led a group of villagers in replicating the scene of poverty and humility of Christ’s birth. Schouweiler Planetarium turned visitors’ views heavenward with “Star of Bethlehem” on three consecutive weekends. Stargazers followed the star of the Wise Men under the Middle East sky in the year 3 B.C. before viewing the wonders of the Fort Wayne evening sky through the facility’s technology. A Christmas concert and art exhibits, a Fair Trade bazaar and breakfast with Saint Nicholas for kids provided lots more to see and do, and a Toys for Tots drive tapped into the central emotion of Christmas—the joy of giving.
Photos by Tim Brumbeloe
saint francis magazine | winter 2011
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