New Kensington parishes celebrate Epiphany with live animals inside church

Parishioners and community members weren’t the only ones celebrating the Epiphany on Sunday at St. Joseph Parish in New Kensington.

A donkey, miniature horse, two lambs and two goats were, too.

Filomena Palumbo, 6, of New Kensington had some fun playing with the miniature horse.

“I think it’s lovely. I think it’s great for our community,” her mother, Shane Palumbo, said. “What other way for people to come together even after Christmas to still celebrate the Christmas spirit?”

For the past 17 years, two churches, St. Joseph and St. Mary of Czestochowa, have hosted a live reenactment of the Epiphany, known as “The Epiphany Experience.”

It’s performed to teach people, particularly children, about its importance. It is always held at St. Joseph.

The Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, is when the three Magi — also referred to as the three Wise Men or three Kings — visited the infant Jesus to bless him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

“It’s a great opportunity for folks to have a hands-on experience,” said Monsignor Michael Begolly, parish pastor. “Following the prayer in church, children are outside petting the animals and just getting a sense of what it was like to be in that manger 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem. It’s a wonderful tradition that we have every year.”

This year’s event was presented by three parishes: St. Joseph, St. Mary of Czestochowa and Mt. St. Peter. Begolly is the pastor of all three parishes, which are all in New Kensington.

“It’s open to anybody who wants to be in it,” said Debby Discello, event organizer.

Nick Lundberg, who played Joseph, thought the event was cool but a little nerve-wracking.

He had to escort the donkey, which fought him the whole way.

His wife, Jorden, had an easier job. She held their sleeping daughter, Mila, who played Jesus.

“The service was really nice. The music was beautiful,” Jorden said. “We’ll definitely be back every year.”

Every year, a couple with a newborn child plays Jesus, Mary and Joseph, according to Discello.

Shane Palumbo played Mary nine years ago.

“My other daughter, Martha Jane, who was an angel today, she was actually baby Jesus nine years ago,” Palumbo said. “My husband and I were Mary and Joseph.”

Joe Puet played a shepherd and walked with the miniature horse.

He’s in charge of getting the animals, which he pays for out of his own pocket.

“I enjoy bringing in the animals because it adds a special flavor to the Christmas story, and it’s rare to have live animals inside the Catholic church,” Puet said. “It’s sort of my contribution to the enjoyment of the Christmas season.”