Deacon Says His Dazzling Christmas Light Display Has Led to 82 Marriage Proposals and Even a 'Miracle' (Exclusive)

• Affectionately known as “Deacon Dave,” David Rezendes is a fourth generation resident of Livermore, Calif., who has been building elaborate Christmas displays in his front yard for more than 40 years

• What started as a small elf village with 2,000 lights has grown into a massive display of over 900,000 lights that attracts visitors from across the Bay Area and beyond

• “A couple of years back, I had a couple tell me that they were not religious, but there’s something special here under these lights,” Rezendes tells PEOPLE, “and I thought, that’s why we are here"

Deacon Dave Rezendes remembers the time a stranger came to see his Christmas light display after flying into the Bay Area. As they were passing by, the pilot told passengers to look out the window to see the blazingly bright Livermore home.

“He said everyone could see it from the window and he rented a car just to come to Livermore to see it,” Rezendes, 81, tells PEOPLE, adding that the man was not disappointed.

Since 1982, Rezendes and his helpers have built elaborate sets in his front yard and roof for the holidays. Locals have brought their children, and those children now bring their own families to see Deacon Dave's massive display. On Thursday Dec. 5, his work will even be showcased on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight, which was filmed last year with the theme of "Through the Eyes of a Child."

He says his team of 20 workers has some say in the designs, but he maintains “the papal veto.”

“The theme always has some kind of a story that it's telling when you walk through the grounds,” Rezendes says.

Related: North Carolina Man Raises Thousands for Cancer Research with Over-the-Top Christmas Lights Display

There’s something magical and spiritual about Casa del Pomba, Rezendes' name for his home, which means "House of the Dove" in Portuguese.

For one, it's been the backdrop for quite a few forever memories, thanks in part to a feature he calls the "proposal bridge."

"There have been 82 marriage proposals over the years on that bridge under the lights," he says.

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As if that's not incredible enough, last year he says a young couple came to the home, asking for him, and had a child raised up in their arms. They asked if he remembered them. He did not. Then they told them that they brought their baby to see the lights the previous year, after the child was diagnosed with cancer.

“They said, ‘We feel a miracle happened here,’ and I asked what they meant,” Rezendes says. “The  mother, with tears in her eyes, said afterward they had an appointment with the doctor and the tumor was gone. I was blown away when I heard that.”

Related: Teen with Autism Speaks for the First Time Ever After Seeing Neighbor's Christmas Light Display

The display is free for visitors, but there is a coin toss, a wishing pond and a donation box. The proceeds go to the local Santa’s Secret Service, which provides gifts to people of all denominations and is based at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Livermore.

“For 65 years, we’ve been giving to hospitals, rest homes, to the battered and the abused,” says Rezendes.

Additionally, there is a Santa mailbox, where all letters with a return address are answered. One year, Rezendes says a young boy was tugging on the robe he was wearing while greeting people and asked him to hand a letter to Santa.

“He said, 'We don’t have a place to live so I don’t know if Santa can find me,' ” Rezendes says.

Rezendes had an assistant find his parents, asking how they could reach them. Of course, Santa found that little boy and he got his toys — and more.

“A couple of years back, I had a couple tell me that they were not religious, but there’s something special here under these lights,” Rezendes says. “And I thought, that’s why we are here.”

Rezendes is single, but his mom Norma, 101, lives nearby and still cooks, bakes and gardens — and helps out with the Christmas cheer. In addition to one tree in his backyard, which is more than 23 feet tall and covered with 1,000 ornaments, there are an additional 44 Christmas trees inside.

“I have theme trees like kitchen trees and a bath tree with miniature sinks and things,” Rezendes says. 

Related: Days After His Wife's Death, an 'Angel' Knocked. Now Tree They Planted as Newlyweds Is in Rockefeller Center

Many of his creations can be seen by visitors as they pass by the home’s large picture windows.

The annual public display features a different theme each year, with intricate wooden and metal structures, and over 20 volunteers who help bring the display to life.

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When the tradition began back in 1982, shortly after he was assigned to St. Michael’s parish in Livermore, Rezendes celebrated the moment with a Christmas display of 2,000 lights in his driveway.

Over the years, the modest display became a staggering phenomenon — and a beloved community tradition. This year, hundreds turned out for the candlelight processional and reading of Genesis before the customary "Let there be light" flipping of the switch on Saturday, Nov. 30.

But for Livermore's beloved Deacon Dave, it has never been about big display bragging rights.

“I wanted to do something for people of all faiths or no faith,” Rezendes says. “The team members are volunteers from all walks of life, all faiths and I think that’s a good mix and is very important. They all share that big passion for Christmas that I have.”

The Great Christmas Light Fight airs Thursdays in December on ABC with episodes available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Read the original article on People