Massachusetts church launches nativity scene highlighting US mass shootings

A Catholic church in Massachusetts has put up a Christmas nativity scene that lists the death tolls of some of the worst mass shootings in the U.S.

St. Susanna Catholic Parish is hoping that its nativity display in the town of Dedham in the Boston area would encourage a discussion about gun violence in America.

The display features the traditional elements such as the three kings, angels, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, but behind the figures are planks listing 16 mass shootings that occurred throughout the U.S., along with the number of people killed in each incident.

"We chose these events to highlight [that] this can happen anywhere," Pastor Stephen Josoma told NBC News.

"It has happened at nursing homes, schools, military bases, or concerts, and there doesn't seem to be a place that is safe," he added.

In an effort to continue the discussion about gun violence, the church has partnered with Pax Christi, a Catholic group aiming to promote peace and justice.

"It feels like we are in an endless loop cycle of tragedy striking, talking about it, and then deciding this isn't the time to act because we should be praying for the families and victims. Our hope is to keep the conversation going," Josoma said.

Among the incidents listed in the nativity scene were the November shooting at the First Baptist in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and the Las Vegas mass shooting in October.

In Sutherland Springs, 26 people were killed and 19 others were injured after gunman Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire at the church during a Sunday service.

In the Las Vegas mass shooting, Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival, resulting in 59 deaths and 546 non-fatal injuries.

Other incidents listed on the display include those in Columbine, Colorado; Newtown, Connecticut; Orlando, Florida; Virginia Tech and Charleston, South Carolina.

The number of victims in the 16 shootings listed on the nativity total 300, which was also the number of bodies buried at St. Susanna since 2005.

The display includes a banner with featuring a quote from the Gospel of Luke, which reads, "If only you knew the things that make for Peace." The church bulletin states that the list serves as a "sobering reminder" to continue to work for peace.

Josoma said that there had been some negative reactions about the display, but no one has asked the church to take it down.

Patricia Ferrone, a parishioner and member of the Pax Christi group, said that the congregation is not worried about a backlash because installing the nativity scene "felt like a clear thing to do."

While the church hopes that the display would start conversations about gun violence, the members of the congregation do not appear to be advocating for any particular policy.

"You can interpret it in different ways. It's just to draw people in, make people think," Ferrone said.