Pope Francis’ remarks from his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

This is the first Christmas in 35 years—my entire life—that I won’t be with my mother, father and older brother for Christmas.

Ansgar Holmberg, C.S.J., 86, didn’t paint her O Antiphon series to edify or instruct anyone. They were meant only for herself.

During the nine days before Christmas, friends and family gather for the re-enactment, with two children dressing up to play the roles of Mary and Joseph.

This is not the year—or the Christmas—we wanted. But God is still with us, and we can still reach out to our neighbors.

“What they did was portray an astronaut offering the moon to Jesus,” Angelo Bottone said. “To me, it’s an expression of profound worship.”