Why St. Andre Bessette for a Choir Festival?

Several people 

have asked

why would I choose

St. Andre Bessette

(formally, St. Francis Xavier)

as the place

to hold this Choir Festival.

The reasons are many!

First and foremost,

I grew up there.

I made my First Communion there.

All three of my sons were baptized there.

My father’s funeral,

my grandmother’s funeral,

and my Uncle Roy’s funeral

were all  held there.

The church building

and the parish community

hold many dear memories for me.

Also,

it was the first parish

where I served as musician and choir director.

But even more. . .

... did you read that blog post I wrote

about the song “The Lord Is Risen?”

The first song I ever accompanied at a mass

was when I was in the sixth grade

and in the children’s choir. ..

. . .at St. Francis Xavier,

which, now, through the clustering process,

is the new parish St. Andre Bessette.

What better place to celebrate 30 years in music ministry

than the place where my ministry began?

But I have always loved the Parish Center building.

In all honesty,

it’s one of the very best church social halls

I have ever seen.

It’s large and very open.

Plus,

it also has small rooms

where choirs/ musicians

can tune up and warm-up

before they perform,

without disturbing the goings on

in the main hall.

The kitchen is large and wonderful.

And the parking lot

is huge and open,

with another small lot located in front.

Plus,

St. Andre Bessette is very easy to find.

It’s located on Outer Drive

at W. Jefferson,

right where Outer Driver ends.

Anyhow,

I really do love St. Andre Bessette

and I’m certain

you’ll have a great time at the Choir Festival!

Bring your maracas and your tambourine

and do plan on joining in

on the music making!!!!!

And remember,

children are welcome!

The children’s choir I currently direct

will be among those performing for this event,

so let the children come!

And if you have that tambourine,

do bring it with you
and let a child enjoy the music ministry!

Saturday, Oct. 27th.

The event starts at noon and will last about 2 1/2 hours,
followed by a coffee social.

The Choir Festival will take place
at St. Andre Bessette Parish
(formally, St. Francis Xavier).
4250 W. Jefferson
Ecorse, MI  48192

There will be no charge for this event
but a freewill offering will be accepted
 to help defray the cost of hosting this event.

Photo - Wilson!!!

Here he is!
The one and only, Wilson!
Most of the children's choirs
that I have directed over the years
are pretty familiar with this little guy!

Wilson shows the kids
how to open your mouth when you sing.
Generally,
we have a two-finger rule:
if you can't put two fingers in your mouth
it isn't open wide enough.
Wilson helps to demonstrate that.

Wilson has been taking a break lately,
but promises to be there
for the choir festival.
In fact,
Wilson claims
that he will be bringing several family
and friends to the event!!!

You won't want to miss it!
Some of Wilson's people
might just get to go home
with some of the children
in attendance at the choir festival!!!

Yeah,
it's a choir festival
to celebrate my 30 years in the music ministry.
But it's also an event
for everyone to come together,
to make music together,
to sing and give thanks and praise together.

80% of people in who sing in choirs as adults
sang in a choir as a child.
And with this event
I also hope to encourage the children
to make a joyful noise. . . 
. . .even if it means
that I gotta get crafty with a few tennis balls. . . .

So, 
do come on down
and do, please,
do bring the children.

Saturday, Oct. 27th.

The event starts at noon
and will take place
at St. Andre Bessette Parish
(formally, St. Francis Xavier).
4250 W. Jefferson
Ecorse, MI  48192

There will be no charge for this event
but a freewill offering will be accepted
to help defray the cost of hosting this event.

Photo - Faithfest 2010

This photo was taken in 2010
at Faithfest.
In this pic
we see members a few members of Cantico
as well as a few members of St. Gabriel's Children's Choir.
That year,
both groups performed at the Faithfest event,
just behind those doors
to the Jerusalem Cafe

Both groups will performing
at the Choir Festival

Hope to see you there:

Saturday, Oct. 27th.

The event starts at noon
and will take place
at St. Andre Bessette Parish
(formally, St. Francis Xavier). 

There will be no charge for this event
but a freewill offering will be accepted
to help defray the cost of hosting this event.

Photo - St. Gabriel's Childrens Choir - July 2012

This photo is a bit more recent.
This is the fabulous children's choir
of St. Gabriel Parish in Detroit.

In this photo
the children are performing
for the grand opening of Garage Cultural,
a brand new center of Music and Visual Arts
located in the City of Detroit.

These children
will be among the groups
performing at the Choir Festival
on Saturday, Oct. 27th.
The program begins at noon!
Hope to see you there!

The event will take place
at St. Andre Bessette
(formally, St. Francis Xavier)
in the City of Ecorse
in the Parish Center Building.

Photo - St. Francis Xavier Children's Choir

An old photo I found in my piles and piles of stuff.
I don't know what year this was.
If anyone knows or remembers,
please comment below and let me know.

These children are all grown up now.
A few of them are my facebook friends!
One is now a professional singer.
Two of these children are my own sons.

. . .and take a good close look.
The child in front wearing white shirt and tie
was not a member of the children's choir.
I remember this clearly.
He saw all of the children lining up getting ready to sing
and just joined the crowd.
Notice the children all have green folders.
He is holding a coloring book,
and it's upside down!!!

Are you in this photo?
What do you remember about this event?
Why not come on down
and share your memories of the music making?!?!?

Do come join us 
as we celebrate 30 years in the music ministry!
Saturday, Oct. 27th 
starting at noon.
The place?
St. Andre Bessette (formally, St. Francis Xavier)
in the city of Ecorse. 

FYI,
the choirs and music makers for this event
will be performing
from the exact same place
in the exact same building
as in this photo!!
. . .sharing old memories
while making new ones!!!

Hope to see you there!!!