Name/Title
Nativity Scene of clay figure blocksEntry/Object ID
2021.064.002Description
Nativities scene of the birth of Jesus Christ displayed as ceramic blocks. There are four pillars and one figure. Two pillars are similar in size and have cattle animals carved on them: one has two sheep while the other has a donkey. The medium sized pillar has Mary carved on it. the star is carved on it, while the largest pillar has Joseph with a star depicted on it. When put together, from left to right, the pillars go as followed: the sheep, Joseph, Mary, and the donkey. Jesus lays in a straw bed in the middle.Context
Raymundo Joseph Peña (February 19, 1934 – September 24, 2021) was an American Roman Catholic bishop.[1]
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was the son of Cosme A. Peña and Elisa Ramon Peña. He attended St. John's Seminary, and Assumption Seminary, both in San Antonio, Texas. He was ordained on May 25, 1957, at Corpus Christi Cathedral by the Most Reverend Mariano S. Garriaga, D.D., LL.D.[1]
On October 16, 1976, he was named Titular bishop of Trisipa and Auxiliary to the Archbishop of San Antonio. In 1979 he served as Administrator Sede Vacante for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
In 1980, Peña was appointed Bishop of El Paso, serving for 15 years until his installation as Bishop of Brownsville in 1995. He submitted his letter of resignation to the Congregation for Bishops upon reaching 75. His resignation was accepted when Pope Benedict XVI, named Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, Daniel E. Flores as bishop in his stead.
the Bishop willed his collection of nativity scenes to the Museum of South Texas History and to the Historic Brownsville Museum. For many years Bishop Peña displayed the nativity scenes year-round. He considered them not just a seasonal theme, but a reminder of God’s divine love. He enjoyed sharing them with those who visited, using them as medium through which to express his faith. Inspired visitors often gifted Bishop Peña with additional nativity scenes.Collection
Bishop Raymundo PeñaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Figure, ReligiousNomenclature Primary Object Term
Symbol, ReligiousNomenclature Sub-Class
Religious ObjectsNomenclature Class
Ceremonial ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects