CHRISTMAS SONGFEST:
SINGING IS PRAYING TWICE!
Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Host Student Performers
|
|
Songfest! St. Clare Chapel |
Sister Arlene McGowan, SFP
The chapel at St. Clare Convent was all decked out in its Christmas finery for our first Christmas Songfest on Sunday, December 2, 2007. Sister Marilyn and Associate Anne Cabanas did a marvelous job of transforming our chapel for the occasion!
This was a “friendraiser” for our Foundation. The Special Events Committee -- Sisters Marilyn, Bonnie, June, Marie Clement and Arlene; Associates Anne Cabanas, Leah Curtin, Don Rohling and Molly Traynor; and Chris Lemmon, Director of the Franciscans for the Poor Program. Chris had worked for several months planning this event. Linda Christian and Sarah Cantwell of our Foundation Office were also part of our Committee.
Six of our Associates also served as a “Welcoming Committee” and braved the cold weather and rain to direct people to parking and to the chapel. They also assisted the performers in getting their equipment inside. When the groups finished their pieces, they were taken to the Mercy Franciscan Terrace Activity Room where they also performed for the residents and their families. Sr. Joanne served as our Mistress of Ceremonies. Three local parishes and two high schools participated. Parishioners from St. James of the Valley volunteered to assist residents of Mercy Franciscan Terrace to attend, taking them back and forth from their rooms.
St. Bartholomew's Hand Chime Choir
The LaSalle / McAuley High School Choral Group performing at St. Clare Chapel
Fourth Grade Music Class from St. Vivian
|
|
Thirteen children from St. Bartholomew Parish’s Hand Chime Choir, under the Direction of Elise Fessler, opened with two songs and closed the program with two songs. Lindsay Zierhoff, Director of the Children’s Choir at St. Vivian Church, directed twenty children as they sang three Christmas songs.
Fifteen students of McAuley High School Choir, directed by Mary White, along with fifteen students from LaSalle High School that were directed by Cindy Webb gave a forty- minute performance of several selections (two of them with choreography).
After the Songfest, the students and their parents and guests joined our Sisters and Associates at a reception in St. Clare Center Meeting Rooms. In the reception area the rooms were decorated with a Christmas theme. Sr. Mary Louise provided the historical display from Archives consisting of Historical Display Boards, a variety of written materials and pictures and artifacts of the Congregation and our ministries in Africa, Brazil, Italy and the United States. We also had our Vocation Display Board and materials and Franciscans for the Poor Display Board and materials. The Foundation displayed five large boards representing our ministries throughout the world.
|
Sr. Joanne Schuster,
Mistress of Ceremonies
Sisters and friends
|
|
The children and guests each received a handmade ornament (made by Sr. Rose Carmel and Sr. June) and card with a Christmas Crib and tree blessing (written by Sr. Arleen Bourquin) as a memento of the occasion. The invitations, programs and prayer cards -- all designed and printed by our Foundation Staff -- followed the same Christmas theme.
Not counting our Sisters and Associates 145 people attended the Songfest. Our Chapel was filled to capacity! We have a DVD of the event, and if anyone is interested in borrowing it, please contact the U.S. Area Office. |
|
