For Missouri deacon, Black Nativities and Santas celebrate a God who creates in all shades

By Jay Nies

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (OSV News) -- For Deacon Seibert, Black Nativities and Santas celebrate a God who creates in all shades.

The deacon bought his first Black Nativity scene near St. Louis more than a quarter-century ago. He found another set, one of his favorites, at a drugstore in downtown Jefferson City.

"Actually, they only had some of the pieces there," he recalled.

"Then, I was at a conference in Oregon and I went to a store there, and they had some of the pieces I didn't have, and I thought, 'You've got to be kidding me!'" he told The Catholic Missourian, newspaper of the Diocese of Jefferson City.

He bought another set in Alexandria, Virginia -- this one made in Africa. "Nigeria, I think, but I'm not sure," he stated.

Deacon Seibert, who is Black, assists the pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson City.

For him, finding representations of the first Noel that match his complexion are a celebration of a God who created man in his "own image and likeness."

"And I think to celebrate who you are in the eyes of God is a wonderful thing," he said.

"They're all kind of spread out," he said while moving from the living room to the dining room to the den, giving a visitor a Nativity tour. "There's a little one there and a little one there. Of course, you see this one here."

The halls also are decked with Black angels and Magi on a Christmas tree.

Five Black Nativities are sprawled out on the dining room table, with room to spare for place settings and a family heirloom centerpiece.

A larger Nativity is situated under a Christmas tree on the landing at the top of the stairs.

"They're kind of all over the place," said Deacon Seibert.

So are scores and scores of Black Santas, most accompanied by Mrs. Claus.

"There's a real importance to that with me," he said. "Especially with Rachelle and me being married now for 47 years."

Deacon Seibert didn't set out to amass a collection of Black Nativities and Santas. It started out a little at a time.

A close friend and colleague at the Missouri State Highway Patrol gave him his first Black Santa in a spirit of jest.

Rather than razzing his friend back, Deacon Seibert got excited and said, "Where did you get this? Do you think they have any more of them?"

Yes, they did. And the rest is history.

"Interestingly enough," said the deacon, "I'd say that about 90% of the Santas that have been given to me are from white people who go out and look for Black Santas for me. They are celebrating in my joy with me."

He noted that it's easier to find Black Santas in stores than Black Nativities.

He remembers buying his first Black Nativity scene while his children were still living at home.

"I bought that one for everyone to share and see," he said. "It's like I was saying to my sons, 'I want you to know that there are religious things out there that celebrate everybody.'"

He said he finds it puzzling when he hears people say they're "colorblind" -- as if to imply that differences don't matter to them.

"I tell them that I personally don't agree with that," he said. "Because we're all created in the image of God, and I think he intended for every last one of us to see color. It's just what you do with it that matters!"

Namely, to show respect and gratitude for all people, in imitation of Jesus.

Deacon Seibert encourages people of diverse backgrounds to look for Nativities, Santas and other Christmas decorations that reflect their own uniqueness.

"Be proud of who you are, because God created you!" he suggested. "Go, look. See what you can find. It's out there. It just might take a little while."

Deacon Seibert cut back a little on this year's decorating, due to trouble with his knees.

"It didn't take very long, maybe a week," he said. "Last year, I put everything out that I had, and it was March before I had it all put away.

"That was, shall we say, a bit much," he stated.

Even now, the decorations in the den are sufficiently sufficient.

"It makes this room feel so warm, and I love it," he said. "What comfort it is to sit in a room with The Tree of Faith! It feels so good to come here to read or study or watch TV or pray my Daily Office and have the Nativity scenes out and the Christmas tree and all the religious figures," he said.

He laughed while noting that a few of the Christmas mementos escape getting put away at season's end.

"I kid you not: It will be the middle of summer when we realize we didn't put a few of them away, so we'll decide to just leave them out," he said.