FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis invites community members to celebrate the coming Christmas season with a number of special events on campus.
The Christmas season events are:
Nativity Art Exhibition
Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center, 1014 Leesburg Road
Through Dec. 20
More than 30 works of local and regional arts feature interpretations of the Nativity in celebration of the 800th anniversary of the first Living Nativity, created by St. Francis of Assisi. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. (Closed Nov. 22-26) Admission is free.
Brookside Tours Featuring Crèches
Brookside, 2701 Spring St.
Dec. 1 and 8, 4-6 p.m.
Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10, noon to 5 p.m.
Docent-led tours through Brookside (formerly Bass Mansion) will allow visitors to see more than 120 holy crèches (Nativity scenes). Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance through Saint Francis ticketing.
Holiday Art Bazaar
Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center, 1014 Leesburg Road
Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alumni, faculty, students and staff will display their work for purchase and the event will also include live music and a free tote bag (designed by graphic design student Reese Rosario) will be given to the first 200 people. Admission is free.
Breakfast with St. Nicholas
North Campus Gymnasium, 2702 Spring St.
Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to noon
Children and parents can enjoy breakfast and a visit with St. Nicholas. Tickets are $12 ($7 for ages 2-12 and free for those 1 and younger) and must be purchased through Eventbrite.
Lighting of the Lake and Living Nativity
St. Francis Chapel, 2701 Spring St.
Dec. 3, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
A petting zoo will precede the blessing of luminaries and portrayal of the Living Nativity, celebrating the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ first Living Nativity. Cookies and hot cocoa follow in Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center. Admission is free.
Lecture on the First Living Nativity
North Campus Auditorium, 2702 Spring St.
Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
Sister Felicity Dorsett, OSF, will lead in remembering and rejoicing in how St. Francis, his brothers and people from the area celebrated the birth of Christ with the First Living Nativity. Cookies and cocoa to follow. Admission is free.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.