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Christmas Eve Welcome Choir celebrates family, birth of Jesus
By LINDA M. LINONIS
WARREN
The Christmas Eve Welcome Choir at Blessed Sacrament Church brings participants together into the family of faith.
Pat Campbell, director of music and worship in the Catholic community, said the parish has had this choir at least 10 years. “It started out as a children’s choir,” she said of the seasonal group. Parents and other family members were sometimes at rehearsals and it seemed only natural to involve them. “Some parents expressed an interest in participating,” Campbell said.
So the children’s choir morphed into the Christmas Eve Welcome Choir in which students in third grade and older and adults are invited to sing. This choir sings at Christmas Eve Masses at 4 and 6 p.m. at the church. The choir is so named because everyone is welcome to participate – no audition required.
“I think the children learn something by seeing their parents or grandparents learn a new song,” Campbell said.
Though it’s nice to see whole families involved, Campbell said many times it’s grandmothers who bring grandchildren to share a special activity. Campbell also noted some college students return to sing in the choir. “It’s part of their holiday tradition,” she said. “And it sets a nice example for younger children in the choir.”
Campbell admits she never knows who will show up at the three rehearsals. Even if prospective participants can’t attend, recordings are available for them to learn any new songs.
“It’s not a pageant,” Campbell said, so there are no lines to learn. The choir generally sings familiar, traditional Christmas carols with a couple of new selections. “We’re musical support for the assembly,” Campbell said.
“We want to create an atmosphere that we’re all participants in the celebration of the birth of Jesus,” Campbell said. In keeping with that idea, it’s the “Joy to the World” Christmas Eve Welcome Choir.
Campbell said the repertoire will include “Joy to the World” for the processional and “Silent Night, Holy Night” after Holy Communion along with the companion piece, “Holy Night, Silent Night.”
Not-so-familiar selections include “I’m So Glad Each Christmas Eve” and “Joyful the News,” which Campbell said listeners will “hear a carol in the melody.”
Campbell said she strives to “make it a positive experience” so singers return. “It’s about people working together to make the celebration the best it can be,” she said. Campbell said she sees participating in the choir as a learning experience. “They acquire poise and presence,” she added.
The musical part of the Mass also includes cantors who lead the response psalms. Choir members also will use rhythm instruments.