AUBURN — It’s one of the oldest, most beloved stories, the birth of Jesus Christ and for many, the reason for Christmas.

Students of Saint Dominic Academy commemorated the event Dec. 11 before a full house in the Auburn campus gym. More than 100 students in kindergarten through grade six participated in the pageant.

Kindergartners were candle-holders and singers. First-graders played shepherds. Second-graders were the townspeople of Bethlehem. Third-graders were angels.

The roles of narrators and actors were performed by students in grades four through six, wearing costumes with authentic details.

“The costumes are a collection from old parishes that donated them,” costume manager Pauline Collette said. “Some of them are really old, with rickrack and real zippers. They are a collection of love.”

The play opened with a narrator telling of how the mighty angel Gabriel came to Mary in the village of Nazareth.

The angel praised Mary, played by Caroline Gastonguay, 11, as being full of grace, and told her: “God is very pleased with you.” Gabriel told Mary she would have a baby boy and name him Jesus, who would be the Savior.

Caroline nodded.

The narrator continued: “So Mary said yes to the angel, and our story begins.”

Kindergartners began singing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.”

Another narrator told of how the Roman emperor sent orders for a census. That meant everyone had to travel to their hometowns to have their names recorded. Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem.

Kindergartners sang “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.”

In Bethlehem, there was no room at the inns. Students playing Mary and Joseph stood in front of those playing innkeepers, who sent them away. One innkeeper and his wife, seeing she was with child, showed them to a manger where they would be warm. That’s where, the children said, Jesus was born.

Kindergartners sang “Away in a Manger.”

The story continued: Angels appeared to shepherds watching sheep on nearby hills. Suddenly, the sky filled with light. Angels were everywhere.

“One of the angels said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. I bring you happy news! Tonight in Bethlehem a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord!” the narrator said.

The angels began singing.

Kindergartners sang “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

A girl dressed in a gold gown and holding a star walked through the audience, leading children dressed as wise men to the manger to see the baby.

Kindergartners sang “Silent Night.”

The play ended with a spotlight on the holy family as a narrator wished that Jesus born on Christmas night would “fill our hearts and our world with love, and hope, and joy, and peace.”

The lights came back on and everyone sang “Joy to the World.”

Co-producer and teacher Elizabeth Dunn said students and teachers began working on the pageant in November. Her co-producer was Jenn Poliquin.

“The story is the traditional story of Jesus being born, with Joseph being called to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the city of David, and finding no room at the inns,” Dunn said. “It’s the traditional story I remember from growing up, one we share with students.”

When students are involved in presenting the story of Jesus’ birth, they learn the story better. “It seems more real,” Dunn said.

Caroline Gastonguay of Lewiston said she was happy to play Mary.

“Mary gave birth to the king who saved us all,” Caroline said. “Mary is kind. She never sinned. She was chosen by God out of all women.”

Andrew Lewis, 10, played Joseph.

“He married Mary,” Andrew said. “He helped her find a place to stay (and have her baby).” Andrew knew that Mary and Joseph had to walk a long distance to get to Bethlehem, that Joseph worked as a carpenter, and that they were poor.

The play, with its colors, costumes and traditional songs, “is very moving and emotional,” Dunn said. “It brings us back in time” and helps connect people to the Christmas story, helps them be able to feel it.

Andrew Lewis said Christmas means a lot to him. He likes being with his family and sharing gifts.

Caroline said she likes Christmas “because Jesus was born. Jesus is very special,” and helps her be a better person. “He makes us think about what Christmas is all about,” she said.

Jesus was born to a poor family, Caroline said. “It makes us realize it’s not all about the stuff we get.”

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