As a child growing up in Omaha, Neb., Mary Lynne McGrath remembers Christmas as the simple beauty of a wooden straw-filled manger set in a Nativity scene, the joy of lighting the Advent candles, and the excitement of waiting to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus.

It is these memories that made bringing to life the story of St. Francis of Assisi’s creation of the first living Nativity scene a natural for McGrath.

McGrath and her husband, Robin Aurelius, are co-authors of a musical folk play titled “St. Francis Celebrates Christmas.”

The play, which has been performed at more than 30 schools and churches in Northern California and Nevada, is being presented to children in several elementary schools in the Diocese of Sacramento this month.

McGrath said the seed was planted to write the Christmas play after she retired from working for 25 years as an elementary school teacher. She became a professional storyteller, teaching classes in the subject at California State University, Sacramento, and performing nationally in joint productions with Aurelius.

Then when she discovered a book titled “St. Francis Celebrates Christmas” three years ago, presenting the story to young audiences shot to the top of McGrath’s priority list.

The story recalls the incident said to have occurred in 1223 in Grecchio, Italy, in which Francis created the first Nativity scene.

“I began to imagine how I could incorporate storytelling into a program that would celebrate the sacred meaning of Christmas,” she said.

The fact that the couple are members of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Sacramento and have a natural devotion to St. Francis made the Christmas play “a perfect fit.”

The play “St. Francis Celebrates Christmas,” which features two actors playing St. Francis and his friend Giovanni, is set in Grecchio. As the drama unfolds, Francis tells Giovanni that to remind people about the true meaning of Christmas, they must assemble several animals to witness the birth of Jesus before the villagers.

The play becomes interactive when children wearing animal masks come from the audience to take their places in the stable. Domestic animals like the donkey, cow and sheep are joined by a wolf representing wild life.

“The heart of the message is that the real meaning of Christmas is not what is going on in the marketplace, but what is going on in front of their eyes…the miraculous birth of Jesus,” McGrath said.

Musical accompaniment for the production is provided by Aurelius, an accomplished musician who has experience as an organist and choir director in Sacramento-area churches for nearly 40 years. Aurelius leads the singing of several traditional Christmas carols playing the recorder flute.

Michelle Hendricks, coordinator of catechesis for people with special needs for the diocesan department of Catholic Faith Formation, saw the play two years ago at the “Christmas Experience,” an activity sponsored by Camp ReCreation. The event is a program of the department for individuals with special needs.

“Because members of the audience become characters in the play and participate in the unfolding of the story, it really heightened the interest,” Hendricks said. “It’s a very gentle play appealing to the mind, spirit and imagination of children.”

Frank McNamera, a teacher at St Patrick School in Sacramento, had the play presented to students at Sacramento’s St. Anne School in 1998 when he was principal. He said one of the production’s strengths is the message it delivers through the presence of all of God’s creatures.

“It was a lovely program, very meaningful and presented with great sensitivity,” he said. “The animals (played by children) coming together creates a very good feeling.”

Performances of “St. Francis Celebrates Christmas” are planned through Dec. 19. For more information, call (916) 447-3557.

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