ARCHBOLD—Children who participate in the religious education program at Archbold St. Peter and their families are visiting Bethlehem this week.

Instead of their usual program Dec. 14, the students will find a virtual Bethlehem, complete with activities that recall life in the town where Jesus was born. Catechists, high school students and other volunteers dress in period garb to present the program, according to Rita Kruse, catechetical leader at St. Peter.

The parish activities hall is set up as Bethlehem, with children signing a census and receiving gold coins upon their arrival. The coins can be spent at one of many “shops,” which include a bakery, leather shop, scribe and others. Activities abound throughout the “town.” A pregnant Mary and Joseph also stroll through the area most of the evening, and appear in a live nativity scene at the end of the program.

Ms. Kruse explains the event started last year in place of the usual Christmas program, which seemed to be taking away too much religious education instructional time.

It returns for its second year at the request of the religious education students, Ms. Kruse says. They are encouraged to attend the program with their families.

“The children and their parents seemed to really enjoy it,” she says, adding that many others who did not make it last year are looking forward to attending this year.

Parishioner Peaches Holland captured many of the activities last year with her camera and created a video of the experience, which can be viewed at http://youtu.be/iUKicPpWNRo.