By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC

MIAMI BEACH | St. Joseph parishioners usually pray a novena leading up to Christmas. They gather for nine nights to pray and reflect each night on the different events of the Nativity, from Advent to the Epiphany.

This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the youth and young adult ministry created a drive-thru Nativity in the church parking lot, featuring nine stations on “The Way to Christmas.”

“This event is an adaptation of our Christmas novena,” said Father Juan Sosa, St. Joseph’s pastor.

The stations along the “Way to Christmas” included the prophet Isaiah’s announcement of the birth of a savior, the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would bear the savior, the angel’s announcement to Joseph, Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem for the census, their search for a place to stay, the birth of Jesus in the manger, the visit of shepherds to the manger, the visit of the Magi, and Santa Claus praising Jesus.

A four-page bilingual pamphlet — in English and Spanish — given out to people who came to the event described each station with a reading from the book of Isaiah and readings from the Gospel of Luke, as well as a suggested prayer at each station. A basket at the ninth station allowed visitors to deposit their prayer intentions.

“We did a great job with only two weeks to prepare,” said Gipsy Lodos, St. Joseph’s director of religious education.

“This was the idea of Gustavo Mejias, our youth and young adult ministry director,” she added. “We announced the event in church and on social media.”

Young adult Judith Montalvan said the drive-thru “Way to Christmas” brought a lot of joy during a tough time to both participants and the people who attended.

“It reminded us of the real reason for the season, which is the birth of Jesus,” she said. “It brought us together as a community and we could all participate in a safe way.”