Alexis' Blog

A stunning, museum-quality presepio, one of the sacred art treasures of St. John Cantius, in Chicago…

The Neapolitan Presepio video, framed by decorative elements of the altar of Our Lady of Chestochowa, is accompanied by St. John Cantius choir. (Be sure your volume's on, so you can also enjoy the St. John Cantius choir.)  St. John Cantius museum includes a large-size manuscript of Gregorian music—Brother Nathan Caswell, S.J.C., fills the museum with melodic chant.   ...

When St. John Cantius was built by Polish immigrants in 1898, its congregation numbered over 1,500 families. But, by 1998, Ogden Avenue and the Expressway had cut a swath through "the Polish Patch" community, and the new Pastor of St. John Cantius, the Rev. C. Frank Phillips, C.R., preached to fewer than 70 souls on Sunday. But Father Phillips realized that the roads that took people away could also bring them back…

Elements of the main altar of St. John Cantius Catholic Parish, ...

I'm working on vintage nativities for Crechemania.com's virtual museum galleries. So why am I getting this ominous pop-up messages?


Creating a Web Virtual Museum means sharing beautiful sheets, like this Italian vintage nativity in three folios. Amazingly, age has not dimmed its colors. (Svatava Vizinová Zábrdské Betlémy Collection.) 
No way, no how: why is Photoshop not only refusing to open this image, but presenting me with troubling messages? (Svatava Vizinová ...

"Please emphasize this is a children's crèche," says Carolyn Loshbaugh. But you know that the Navajo Nativity for Children will not only delight the young — but also the young at heart.


Carolyn Loshbaugh's Navajo Nativity for Children will fill you with delight: there are so many playful pieces — besides the beautifully rendered Nativity figures — you'll find yourself playing "Where's…" with a child. Where's the gila monster? The lizard? The prairie dog? The ...

From Crèche Enthusiast Carolyn Loshbaugh — who wouldn't know what to do without X-Acto knives, trimmers, paint, and rulers — comes a nativity sheet to cut-out and assemble…


[I]Thirteen pieces may be arranged to create this vintage nativity scene.


 
 [B]The original nativity sheet./B]So what do you do when you're in the presence of the majestic Grand Tetons, but holed up at Jackson Lake Lodge because of the rain?

Open ...