Washington D.C., Nov 30, 2004 / 22:00 pm
An hour-long Christmas special, produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC), will be distributed to NBC-TV stations Dec. 19.
Washington’s newly renovated Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is the setting for the program. “Christmas from the Cathedral of St. Matthew” features two programs, which explore the meaning of the Christmas season and celebrate the rich diversity of the Church in the United States
Told through the use of charming clay animation, "The First Christmas" tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus, beginning with Mary and Joseph's trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Produced by Billy Budd Films, with support from the CCC and the Christophers, "The First Christmas" is a past winner of the American Library Association's Andrew Carnegie Medal as the Best Children's Video of the Year.
The second program, "La Gran Posada," brings this biblical story into the present day by exploring the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas (the lodgings), which recreates Mary and Joseph's search for shelter on the eve of the birth of Jesus.