St. Casimir Choir sings holiday homecoming at former church, now center

YOUNGSTOWN

The former St. Casimir Church sanctuary echoed once again with the joyous sounds of the holiday season as the 20-member St. Casimir’s choir led a Polish and American Christmas sing-along.

Saturday evening’s program was reminiscent of the hour-long prelude to Christmas eve midnight Mass, in which the choir would sing, with the church illuminated only by the Christmas lights.

A church bell pealed at the beginning of the event, billed as “Kolachi and Koledy, a Christmas Homecoming.” Koledy are Polish Christmas carols.

On Saturday, the congregation returned to its former worship site for a holiday homecoming for the first time since the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown closed St. Casimir Church on Feb. 25, 2012, and merged it with St. Columba Cathedral.

“It’s the opportunity to truly, truly come home for the holidays,” said Damian Tarantino of Boardman, choir director and a former St. Casimir Church parishioner. “It’s our first chance to be back in the building with the choir, singing just like we did on Christmas eve for so many years,” Tarantino said of the structure, which is now a cultural center.

For more on the event, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.