The parish of St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church in Westbury recently donated a group of religious and secular holiday symbols to the Village of Westbury for display on the front lawn of the community's Recreation Center.

The structures include the Nativity scene, for Christmas, the menorah, to represent Hanukkah, the symbol for the Muslim holy days of Ramadan (a half-moon and star), the symbol for the African holiday, Kwaanza (candelabra), and sleigh, as a secular representation.

Rev. Frank Gaeta, pastor of St. Brigid's said this week that the effort aims to promote tolerance of diverse beliefs, and to start, by doing it in Westbury, a community with both ethnic and religious diversity. "Maybe we're trying to bring the whole world together on the village green, and to teach peace and love and harmony," he said.

The structures were built by parishioners Al Posillico and Ed Lopez. They were constructed using a variety of materials, such as metal piping for the menorah, and wood for the sleigh.

"Our point is really to recognize our religious traditions, and to teach brotherhood, that we have to really respect one another," said Rev. Gaeta, further explaining the purpose of the project. "It's a beautiful time of the year to realize that Christians must have a deep reverence for the Jewish traditions, the Muslim traditions. And it's the same way toward the Christian symbols, and toward one another."

Project design began in February, after the village mayor and board of trustees accepted a request by Rev. Gaeta to allow a donation of the symbols from the church for public display. The pieces were ready in time for the village tree-lighting ceremonies held this past Saturday, Dec. 9. Residents in attendance at the festivities took notice of the structures, as families posed for photographs in front of the religious symbols, and children played in the wooden sleigh.

Marcia Odle-McNair, of the St. Brigid's Black Ministry, expressed pride in the Kwaanza symbol, which she painted, during the recent tree-lighting ceremonies. "I think it's great to represent all the people of African descent, not only in Westbury, but also in Nassau County," she said. "I think it's great to have representation of everyone."

Trustee Peter Cavallaro also commented on the symbols during the tree-lighting. "We intentionally have tried to put out on the lawn here, symbols from most of the religions in the community, so that everyone feels included," he said.

"One of Westbury's strengths is its diversity," Cavallaro added, noting that the community wants to celebrate that.

The group of symbols, which can be viewed as residents pass the Recreation Center on Post Avenue, is similar to a holiday display arranged by Nassau County outside the municipal buildings in Mineola.

"Basically what we tried to do is duplicate what the county has on its property in Mineola," said Rev. Gaeta, noting that the county has set up their display annually for several years.

Rev. Gaeta hopes Westbury's display, too, will have a lasting presence - and impact - in the community, by reminding people of the religious significance of Christmas and all the winter holidays. "The tendency is to just to try to secularize the feast day, and make it Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman with no religious dimension," he said. "And I think what we're trying to do is just bring this back to what this is really all about."