USF hosts the annual Lake Lighting and Living Nativity

FORT WAYNE, Indiana (WANE) — The University of Saint Francis hosted its annual “Lighting of the Lake” and “Living Nativity” Sunday night at its Spring Street campus.

A crowd gathered at the USF Chapel and at Mirror Lake for the event, which honors the Christmas tradition started by St. Francis in 1223.

The annual event at USF recreates the Nativity and members of the university community act out the living nativity scene. There is also a blessing of the lamps that illuminate the lake.

“We had one of our staff recreate Saint Francis, he was the narrator, and then we had students dressed up as angels, Mary and Joseph, and the three kings or wise men,” said Sister Jacinta Kecek of USF.

The lighting of the lake and the living nativity scene has been a tradition at USF for more than 20 years.