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On a brisk day in early December, the grounds of Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus were a flurry of activity. In front of the Mundelein Center, facilities workers laid down plywood planks, drilled wooden boards, and screwed together supports as they constructed the walls of a Nativity scene. Meanwhile, across Sheridan Road, another crew removed three fiberglass Wise Men figures from storage. All of the construction signaled the beginning of a cherished holiday tradition at Loyola: the annual pilgrimage of the Wise Men to the manger. Throughout the Advent season, the Wise Men slowly travel toward the Nativity scene, symbolizing the journey to Jesus’ birthplace in celebration of Christmas.
The tradition of the Wise Men journeying across Loyola’s campus began more than 40 years ago, born out of a desire to both honor the University’s Jesuit, Catholic heritage and build something that could unite the University community in celebration of the holidays. “This Nativity scene isn’t just inspired by our religious identity,” says Hamlet Gonzalez (BBA ’08, MBA ’12), assistant vice president, facilities and campus operations. “The decision to start this tradition came from a collective desire to create something that students, faculty, and staff could connect with.”
To construct the scene, facilities crews work almost entirely from memory, occasionally referencing a video tutorial from a previous year to correctly place figures and wood panels in the scene. Once the inn is built, the frame is covered with pine boughs and evergreen trees are placed along the sides, creating a welcoming scene while still protecting the figures inside from any unexpected winter storms.
The Wise Men figures are placed at their starting point east of the Nativity scene. Sandbags secure the figures on the grass. Each week, facilities crews carefully push the figures a couple feet closer to the Nativity.
The Wise Men arrive at the manger on the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, on January 6. At this time, crews swap out the riding Wise Men for their standing or kneeling configurations as the figures offer gifts to the newborn Baby Jesus. Within a few days of Three Kings Day, facilities crews deconstruct the scene and carefully return the figures to storage for the next year’s holiday celebrations.
The Nativity and the moving Wise Men sit in a high traffic part of campus, making their movement and the story they communicate visible to anyone passing by. Gonzalez describes the public positioning of the scene as a strategic choice. “[Their placement] allows the scene to share its story with the entire community, not just those within campus,” he says. “It’s a warm, visual invitation that embodies the spirit of Loyola—welcoming all.”
Not only is the installation of the Nativity scene a symbol of the holiday season, but the Wise Men’s journey across campus also carries significance for the Advent season. “Advent is a four-week liturgical season in Catholic and Christian churches marked by themes of waiting, hope, and expectation,” says T. Derrick Witherington, assistant director of campus ministry and faculty member in the Department of Theology. Marked by numerous feast days and celebrations, the Advent season calls for reflection on the past and looking ahead to what will come from the birth of Christ.
Creating a visual, active representation of the Wise Men’s trek to the manger invites greater reflection on the role of faith in a person’s life. “Rather than just having the Wise Men appear by the manger on the Feast of the Epiphany, having them visibly make a journey—in our case through campus—highlights the importance of the journey we all have to make to discover who God is calling us to be and how God will reveal Godself to us in the process,” says Witherington.
For those tasked with organizing the annual display, the Wise Men’s journey is more than just holiday decoration: it’s an annual opportunity to pause and reflect amidst the busyness of finals the holiday season. “As a Loyola student, I remember watching the progression of the scene. It was a small but meaningful tradition that marked the season and brought a sense of peace during finals chaos,” says Gonzalez. “Now, as an administrator, being part of the team that carries this forward feels like a full-circle moment. It’s a reminder of how traditions ground us, no matter our role or how much time has passed.”
