More than $4,000 raised at Holy Cross Family Ministries’ Annual Fundraiser
Two local performing artist groups, Jubilate Chorale Chamber Ensemble and the Bridgewater State College Chamber Singers joined forces and helped to raise more than $4,000 for Holy Cross Family Ministries on April 17, 2004. Under the music direction of Dr. Maxine M. Asselin, Director for Jubilate Chorale Chamber Ensemble, and Dr. Steven Young, director for the Bridgewater State College Chamber Singers, an afternoon of classical performance entertained and delighted the crowd. The concert was held at the St. Joseph Chapel in the Holy Cross Center, next door to the Father Peyton Center for Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Massachusetts.
“When we sing, we pray twice,” said Reverend John Phalen, CSC, President of Holy Cross Family Ministries, as he introduced the performers. The program featured a variety of delightful selections. Sacred compositions by Mozart included /Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ave Verum Corpus, A Gaelic Blessing/ by John Rutter, and /The Father Will Dance/ by Mark Hayes. The American traditionals, /I Am A Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger/ featured John Marraffa as tenor soloist and /Swing Low, Sweet Chariot/ were familiar favorites. Popular Broadway tunes included /All The Things You Are/ by Kern and Hammerstein, /Embraceable You/ by Gershwin, /For All We Know/ by Coots and Lewis and /I Get A Kick Out Of You/ by Cole Porter.
The Bridgewater State College Chamber Singers joined forces with the Jubilate Chorale Chamber Ensemble for the final two performance pieces. Dr. Asselin conducted /Sing Me to Heaven/ by Daniel Gawthrop, while /Daemon Irrepit Callidus/ by Gyorgy Orban, was conducted by Dr. Steven Young, who is the principal accompanist for Jubilate Chorale in addition to serving as director of the Bridgewater State College Chamber Singers.
The Jubilate Chorale Chamber Ensemble members are sopranos Terry DeArruda, Taska Hener, Lisa Baglione Howie, Wendy Palanza; altos Elizabeth Craig, Jennifer Hartnett, Susan J. Healy, Suzanne Williamson; tenors John P. Horan, Timothy Hurd, John Marraffa; basses Jay Enos, Jack Kenney, Mark Malmquist and John Porier.
Bridgewater State College Chamber Singers include Brendon Auld, Stephanie Bates, Jessica Besnoff, Tyler Candage, Ian Hudson, David Larocque, Thomas Manning, Jennifer Miller, Amy K. Mills, Tim Owens, Sara Spillane and Kathleen Szymczyk.
The afternoon concert was followed by a reception at the Father Peyton Center to allow attendees to become more familiar with the work of Holy Cross Family Ministries. In addition to the donations for the concert tickets, raffle tickets were sold for a time-share that was donated by Arthur and Eileen Whittemore. Between the two opportunities, Holy Cross Family Ministries was able to raise more than $4,000 for its work. Father Phalen commented, “we are in the ministry of encouraging prayer and what better way to do that than to invite singers who can lift up our spirits with their voices and turn our soul’s to God with their songs? We are grateful to both the Jubilate Chorale Chamber Ensemble and the Bridgewater State College Chamber Singers for generously donating their time, talent, and treasure to help us raise money for our ministry.”
Following the reception, a Rosary was offered in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, at the Father Peyton Center. Father Phalen continued, “The day ended as it began, with prayer.”
The next performance of The Jubilate Chorale Chamber Ensemble will be Sunday, May 2, 2004 at 3:00 p.m., at Christ Congregational Church, 1350 Pleasant Street, Brockton, Massachusetts.
Holy Cross Family Ministries will be hosting a youth concert at the St. Joseph Chapel on May 1, 2004, with the theme of Eucharistic Music. For more information on the Youth Concert, contact Beth Mahoney, 1-800-299-PRAY (7729). If you missed the chance to donate, but would like to support Holy Cross Family Ministries, contact Patrick Rock at ext. 2014.