NATCHEZ — Piece by piece, the story of the birth of Jesus Christ comes together over the course of several weeks in a manger scene at St. Mary Basilica, a tradition Father David O’Connor started more than 20 years ago.

Instead of placing the more than 40-piece Christmas manger scene, or crèche, on display at once, families at the church set up the scene in stages, beginning the first week of Advent, O’Connor said.

The St. Mary nativity set was a gift to the church in 1887 from the Altar Society via the estate of Father Mathurin Grignon, O’Connor said.

The reason behind the tradition at St. Mary, O’Connor said, is to highlight the Advent themes.

Advent is a season that begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and is observed as a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

On the first Sunday of Advent, a bare crib is placed in the scene representing the world awaiting its savior, O’Connor said.

The animals, which include cows, sheep and a dog, are added on the second Sunday of Advent symbolizing all animals awaiting their savior.

The shepherds are placed in the scene on the third Sunday of Advent representing all peoples awaiting Jesus. O’Connor said shepherds are historically representative of the inclusion of all people because they were of a low class.

Mary and Joseph are added on the fourth Sunday of Advent to represent all believers awaiting their savior.

Jesus is placed in the manger on Christmas Eve, representing the arrival of the savior.

The Magi are added the day after Christmas to represent the adoration of Christ by the gentile world.

Church families at St. Mary place the figures during Advent mass services, O’Connor said, which gives them a chance to participate in the assembly of the scene and allows children hands-on learning about Advent and the birth of Christ.

“For them, I think it’s a participatory process, rather than a passive speculative process,” O’Connor said. “That way, you can have a kid who may have otherwise been sitting in the back seat saying ‘Oh, I got to place the sheep,’ or ‘I got to place the cows.’

“It brings the memories of the Bethlehem experience right here in front.”

The scene, which is surrounded by five Christmas trees, poinsettia plants and green garland, is set up by volunteers at the church.

“It’s really something folks seem to enjoy being a part of every year,” he said.