Watch Saint Mark Church’s Adoration Tree Dramatically Come To Life [Video]

https://youtu.be/E9C3arQs0yo

This is the first year Saint Mark Pastor Robert Mucci made it through the Christmas tree lighting ceremony without shedding a tear. Unfortunately, he couldn’t hold it together for the children’s choir.

“Each of the previous years, I cried like a baby when they unveiled the Adoration Tree. I find it so moving. This year, I was on the verge. I thought I was going to make it. And then we had the kids sing,” He told the audience gathered Sunday night for the church’s annual ceremony for the unveiling of the Adoration Tree.

For most of the evening, the tree was hidden behind a black curtain in the corner of the church. When the lights dimmed and the curtain was pulled back, the star on top of the tree began to glow amber red as a choir member sang the first verse of “O Holy Night.” As the song continued, and the rest of the choir joined in, another light would splash on the tree, revealing elaborate decorations depicting the birth of Christ.

This is the 11th year Saint Mark Church has held the tree lighting ceremony. Mucci explained most of the decorations were hand-crafted by Saint Mark parishioner Carlo Oliveri, who comes in every year with a small team that spends a week working day-and-night to decorate the tree.

“Basically they moved in and have been my roommates for the past week. We shared the kitchen together and it was great that I can be confident they could take care of things and do whatever they have to do,” Mucci said.

This year’s event brought in Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop James Massa, who marveled during his sermon at Saint Mark’s Romanesque architecture, which is characterized by semicircular arches supported by huge stone columns.

“This is the oldest style of church architecture and goes back to the ancient world, to the days of the Roman Empire. Even before they were Christians, the Romans built structures like this,” Massa explained. “You have a splendid church. It’s perfect for any kind of worship in the Catholic tradition. It’s just magnificent.”

The service lasted about two hours and included several songs by the choir as well as readings from the Gospel before the tree was finally unveiled.

Joe Young, whose son teaches at the Saint Mark Catholic Academy, said he looks forward to the ceremony every year.

“It helps open the Christmas season and gets everyone in the mood and the spirit of things,” he said. “It’s very uplifting. The whole service is fantastic every year.”