December 11, 2017

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel celebrates first Christmas Carol Festival

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

SPRINGFIELD – Winter’s first snowfall the previous day couldn’t keep Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Springfield from being filled to near capacity, as parishioners, friends and other invitees took time out of their busy Christmas season on Dec. 10 to sing faith-filled traditional Christmas carols, hear inspirational sharing stories and relive the miracle of Christmas at the parish’s first Christmas Carol Festival.

Stigmatine Father Robert White, pastor of Mt. Carmel Parish, said the idea for the festival grew out of the parish’s evangelization efforts in an attempt to encourage parishioners to reconnect with the church. 

“We invited as many people as we possibly could to come and participate and enjoy and reflect on the true spirit of Christmas because its easily commercialized today and we’re trying to bring people back to a more spiritual focus,” said Father White.

Rose Costa and Bill D’Amato, both of whom serve on the parish’s organizing committee, attended a festival training workshop in June and were immediately sold on the program. They then presented it to the parish council for approval.

“What we liked about it is that it’s an opportunity to kind of put a deeper meaning into what Christmas is about. The carols that we’re singing are all Christ-centered. The greatest gift of Christmas is Jesus and we just wanted to send that message out,” said D’Amato.

Music director Tony Romeo led the parish choir in song which included old-time Christmas carol favorites like “The First Noel”; “Silent Night”; “Joy to the World”; “Angels We Have Heard on High”; and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” A brief history of each carol was given before being sung.

During the hour-long event, three parishioners shared their own Christmas stories with the congregation. In addition, everyone got the opportunity to write down a petition, prayer or personal thought on a piece of straw that was placed on the benches. Attendees then ceremoniously placed each straw piece in the manger at the front of the church where it will remain throughout the Advent season.

Children from the parish religious education program also reenacted the Christmas story. After the festival, everyone was invited to the church basement hall for refreshments and each was presented with a homemade star cookie and a given a packet of booklets that explained upcoming parish events.

“It’s (Christmas) not about the parties and the dinners. It’s about the birth of the Christ child and his fundamental reason for coming her to save all of us. Hopefully, people will have that kind of stay with them throughout the remainder of the Advent and into the Christmas season,” added Costa when asked what she hopes people gain from the festival experience.

Costa said the Christmas Carol Festival may become an annual event because of the great initial interest and turnout.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS