Christmas will not end tomorrow at St. Emma Monastery in Hempfield.

For the 13 Benedictine sisters, the holy season has just begun.

They will have their big event -- their 10th annual Christmas open house -- from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. St. Emma is at 1001 Harvey Road, Route 819, north of Greensburg. Admission will be free.

In the joyful spirit of Christmas, the sisters prepare the monastery for visitors, who can see more than 135 Nativity sets from 14 countries, see the monastery itself, visit the extensive gift shop and bookstore, sing carols from 3:30 to 4, and join the sisters in vespers at 4.

"People look for a way after the 25th to celebrate Christmas," said Prioress Mother Mary Anne Noll, a sister for 46 years. "For them to come to a monastery that is a God-center is very fitting. It's wonderful to be able to welcome so many people here."

About 2,000 people attend 25 retreats throughout the year at St. Emma. That is the sisters' main source of income. The Open House is an opportunity for others to come.

Past celebrations have attracted about 375 people, and for many, the open house is their first visit to the monastery.

"It's amazing how many people say they live 2 miles from here, but they are first-timers," Mother Mary Anne said.

On Sunday, visitors will see a variety of Nativities displayed throughout the monastery and two chapels. They are made from traditional ceramic and porcelain, wood, glass and even flower pots.

The collection of wax infants from Germany measure from a half-inch to nearly life-size. A set from the Philippines is carved from bamboo and painted in bright colors. The Wamakonde people of southern Tanzania carved pieces from ebony, and there are even Nativity figures made of stuffed fabric so children can sit down and play in the dining room.

"In the Nativities, we see how various cultures see Jesus," Mother Mary Anne said. "We have a little American Indian set that shows Indian chiefs instead of three kings, and there is a bison instead of a camel.

"We even have a little one where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are Eskimos, and there is an igloo and a polar bear. We also have a set from Haiti, where the cave is made out of a coconut shell, and we have two beautiful pieces of netting embroidered by people in South Africa. ...

"People come here and celebrate Christmas because it's a faith experience."

Mother Mary Anne's favorite Nativity is from Bolivia.

"It's real miniature," she said. "The cow has its face down on the ground in awe of the infant. I can see the cow saying, 'I can't believe God loved human beings so much that he became one of them.' "

The lights that the sisters hang at the monastery are more than decorations, she added. The lights represent Christ as the light of the world, and gifts are given as symbols "because God sent his best gift in Jesus Christ."

There are even little Nativity sets on the dining room tables where guests can enjoy the homemade treats that are an open house tradition.

"Our homemade cookies and punch are served on glass because Benedict says to receive our guests as Christ," she explained.

The many items available in the bookstore and gift shop, can deepen people's faith and remind them of God's love," Mother Mary Anne said.

Volunteers make it possible for the Benedictine sisters to celebrate the open house, operate the retreat center and conduct various activities through the rest of the year. Volunteers help the sisters cook, clean and do laundry during retreats.

Mother Mary Anne called their help a true act of divine providence that makes an essential difference in the operation of the community. Their help is especially visible at this time of year, when the sisters open their home in the spirit of the season.

"It's wonderful to welcome so many people, and with them comes everything in their hearts," Mother Mary Anne said. "This is a way that we can truly celebrate Christmas."

For more information, call 724-834-3060.