What Imelda Marcos is to Shoes, Father Joe is to Nativities
Creche Collection Spans Three Decades

   SAN DIEGO — Father Joe Carroll, president of St. Vincent de Paul Village, will offer tours of his nativity collection, located at 3350 "E" Street, from Sunday, Dec. 2 to Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002.

   He began collecting the sets 30 years ago and now displays more than 450 creches in custom-built cabinets at his office. More cabinets were installed earlier this year to accommodate the 100 nativities he’s accumulated since last Christmas. Father Joe will spend the next week finding homes for the new additions to his display.

   "What Imelda Marcos is to shoes, I am to nativities," Father Joe says. "(The collection) keeps growing and growing. "Most of the sets I buy myself; several of them are gifts from friends, donors and others who know I enjoy displaying them. And just when I think the collection is complete, lo and behold, I find another one I just have to buy."

   The nativity sets range from life-size models to a replica carved in the pit of an avocado. Other sets are made of crystal, coconut shell, bronze and even wool, says Father Joe. His collection includes pieces from as far away as Kurdistan, Hawaii and Japan.

   "Not only are they representative of the birth of Christ," says Father Joe, "they also embody a bit of culture from the part of the world from which they originated."

   Tours are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Groups of more than 10 are encouraged to call at least one day in advance.

   For more on Father Joe’s collection of nativities, call (619) 687-1000.

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