Parish Advent programs bring Catholics home
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
PHILADELPHIA — It’s called “Do you hear what I hear?”
Think of it as a parish Advent program that, through the medium of Christmas
music, helps set the tone for a truly Christian Christmas preparation.
Designed by Franciscan Sister Louise Alff, archdiocesan coordinator
for parish evangelization, it is also a low-key opportunity to reintroduce
inactive Catholics, friends or relatives to parish life.
At St. Christopher Parish in the far northeast section of the city,
the program will be presented at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9. It will feature the
parish’s 32-voice adult choir and 24-voice children’s chair.
“We will be looking at the lyrics to see their true meaning,”
said parochial vicar Father Ik-Joon Choi. “This is an opportunity
to go into the deeper meaning of Christmas.” In addition to carols,
there will be a surprise visitor, other entertainment and refreshments
for the estimated 400 to 500 people St. Christopher’s is shooting
for.
“This is a great opportunity to reach out to people away from
the Church,” said Ann Marie Gervino, who coordinates St. Christopher’s
outreach program. “Hopefully, as a faith community we can capitalize
on the grace of the season, and the Holy Spirit will do His part.”
St. Leo Parish in the Tacony section of the city will conduct “Do
You Hear What I Hear?” at 6 p.m. on Dec. 16.
“We’ll have an icebreaker game, congregational singing,
bells, flags, refreshments, and everyone will go home with a memento
of the day,” said Pat Lardon, parish services director. “It
is non-threatening — there is no preaching. Everyone can just
enjoy themselves. Hopefully, some of the guests will want to come back
to church.”
Several other parishes will also present the program, or have already
done so, according to Sister Louise, including St. Francis of Assisi
Parish in Springfield.
Still to host the event are: Assumption B.V.M. Parish in Feasterville
on Dec. 9; St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in West Chester on Dec. 17, and
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Glenside on Dec. 17.
In a similar program on Dec. 16, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Warrington
will present “Lessons and Carols,” the story of Christmas
interspersed with caroling.
For further information concerning parish outreach programs contact
Sister Louise Alff at 215-587-0547.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.