Louisiana 2008
The St. Gregory the Great Parish Choir embarked on a choir pilgrimage to Louisiana with a purpose; and we accomplished it with room for fun. Although three choir members were unable to join us on the tour at the last minute, the show had to go on. Our tour began at an excellent hotel in the heart of New Orleans – the French Quarter. Choir members and Friends of the Choir enjoyed two full days in New Orleans, and boy did we see a lot! Some went on swamp tours, on cemetery tours, on steamboat tours down the Mississippi, to Bourbon Street, to Preservation Hall for some great jazz, and some of us went on a three hour tour of the city which included the historic French Quarter, the Katrina ravaged areas and the Garden District. No one could fathom the water lines on the houses that were still standing. After going through the 9th Ward our entire van was shocked into a disbelieving silence. Entire neighborhoods were condemned; lone figures sat on porches with no neighbors in sight. Very few have been able to help themselves recover from the effects of hurricane Katrina. These sights and experiences strengthened our sense that our pilgrimage was worthwhile. We ended the first day with a beignet treat for everyone at the world famous Café du Monde. The second day we drove through a torrential rain to get to St. Stephen’s Church, where we shared our music by singing for Sunday mass. The pastor concluded the mass by saying how glad he was that we were there. He was touched to know that people still want to help and even visit them three years after the deadly hurricanes.
In the afternoon of the third day, we headed for Baton Rouge. We made it on time to the hotel, but they weren’t ready for us! We made the quick wardrobe change work and were off shortly thereafter to our concert in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in downtown Baton Rouge. The worst part of the whole tour was that our bus driver had no maps and no idea half the time where we were going. So consequently we were frequently turning around (in the right direction thanks to Lydia Yee and her MapQuest) and 40 minutes late for our warm-up in the cathedral, but again, the show must continue. We had a short rehearsal and then lined up. Robbie Giroir, Director of Music at the cathedral, heralded our concert entrance by reading a note that was written to him personally by the esteemed church composer Richard Proulx. Proulx’s note gave high praise to our choir, me, and notified him about the nature of our tour. The choir poured their hearts into this performance despite the rushed warm-up. Todd Gresick, our unflappable organist for the tour, brought the organ to life. Our inspired performance was recognized with a standing ovation, and our collection raised another $1,300 for our sister parish, St. Peter the Apostle.
The next step on our journey took us to Avery Island, where we toured the Jungle Gardens, which included swamps with alligators, an egret sanctuary, bamboo forests, and a 900-year-old carving of a young Buddha. We continued on to the Tabasco factory where we learned how it is made and sampled everything from Tabasco BBQ sauce, to Tabasco ice cream, to Tabasco soda. From the Tabasco factory we drove to Lake Charles; then on towards the Gulf of Mexico through the bayou to reach our destination – St. Peter the Apostle Church in Hackberry, LA.
The most exciting part of the tour was when our bus pulled up to the front door of their brand new church and they were waiting for us at the front door! It was very meaningful for us to perform a concert for the parishioners of our sister parish and sense their gratitude for our efforts in undertaking and making the journey. “Evening Hymn,” the piece I composed for this tour, was especially poignant for me – conducting and hearing the choir sing beautifully in this new church for these people directly impacted by Hurricane Rita. At the close of the concert, we gave their Music Director Kathleen a grand total of $3,500 for their music ministry. She later told us that she was so overcome by emotion that she was crying throughout the whole concert. After the concert we were treated to an authentic gumbo dinner. Parishioners shared with us many stories of life in Louisiana, hurricane miracle stories, and how their community has strengthened over the last three years. Kathleen told us that the message that they wanted us to take back to all of you is that they are okay and that the hurricane has turned into a blessing in many ways – she said had it not happened we probably wouldn’t have met. We ended our tour by visiting the Space Center Houston; two more wrong turns and we were on our way. Our show went on thanks to all who went on the tour. I was very proud to be directing the choir and representing our parish in such a positive way. We experienced first hand the lasting devastation of the hurricanes from three years ago, and also discovered the beauty of another part of our country.
In the afternoon of the third day, we headed for Baton Rouge. We made it on time to the hotel, but they weren’t ready for us! We made the quick wardrobe change work and were off shortly thereafter to our concert in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in downtown Baton Rouge. The worst part of the whole tour was that our bus driver had no maps and no idea half the time where we were going. So consequently we were frequently turning around (in the right direction thanks to Lydia Yee and her MapQuest) and 40 minutes late for our warm-up in the cathedral, but again, the show must continue. We had a short rehearsal and then lined up. Robbie Giroir, Director of Music at the cathedral, heralded our concert entrance by reading a note that was written to him personally by the esteemed church composer Richard Proulx. Proulx’s note gave high praise to our choir, me, and notified him about the nature of our tour. The choir poured their hearts into this performance despite the rushed warm-up. Todd Gresick, our unflappable organist for the tour, brought the organ to life. Our inspired performance was recognized with a standing ovation, and our collection raised another $1,300 for our sister parish, St. Peter the Apostle.
The next step on our journey took us to Avery Island, where we toured the Jungle Gardens, which included swamps with alligators, an egret sanctuary, bamboo forests, and a 900-year-old carving of a young Buddha. We continued on to the Tabasco factory where we learned how it is made and sampled everything from Tabasco BBQ sauce, to Tabasco ice cream, to Tabasco soda. From the Tabasco factory we drove to Lake Charles; then on towards the Gulf of Mexico through the bayou to reach our destination – St. Peter the Apostle Church in Hackberry, LA.
The most exciting part of the tour was when our bus pulled up to the front door of their brand new church and they were waiting for us at the front door! It was very meaningful for us to perform a concert for the parishioners of our sister parish and sense their gratitude for our efforts in undertaking and making the journey. “Evening Hymn,” the piece I composed for this tour, was especially poignant for me – conducting and hearing the choir sing beautifully in this new church for these people directly impacted by Hurricane Rita. At the close of the concert, we gave their Music Director Kathleen a grand total of $3,500 for their music ministry. She later told us that she was so overcome by emotion that she was crying throughout the whole concert. After the concert we were treated to an authentic gumbo dinner. Parishioners shared with us many stories of life in Louisiana, hurricane miracle stories, and how their community has strengthened over the last three years. Kathleen told us that the message that they wanted us to take back to all of you is that they are okay and that the hurricane has turned into a blessing in many ways – she said had it not happened we probably wouldn’t have met. We ended our tour by visiting the Space Center Houston; two more wrong turns and we were on our way. Our show went on thanks to all who went on the tour. I was very proud to be directing the choir and representing our parish in such a positive way. We experienced first hand the lasting devastation of the hurricanes from three years ago, and also discovered the beauty of another part of our country.
Repertoire
MERCY & PRAYER
Call To Remembrance~ Richard Farrant (1530-80)
If ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments ~ Thomas Tallis (1505-85)
Ave Verum Corpus ~ William Byrd (1543-1623)
DWELLING IN THE SORROW
God Be in My Head ~ John Rutter
Lord, Jesus Christ! From Prayers of Kierkegaard, Op. 30 ~ Samuel Barber
Kirsten Leslie, soprano
Evening Hymn ~ Patrick Godon – composed for this tour
From the End of the Earth ~ Alan Hovhaness, Op. 187
FINDING STRENGTH AND HOPE
O Spirit All-Embracing ~ Gustav Holst/setting by Richard Proulx
The Lord is My Shepherd ~ Thomas Matthews
O How Amiable ~ Ralph Vaughan Williams
Trio from Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12 ~ Camille Saint-Saens
Kirsten Leslie, soprano; Wayne Parham, tenor; Joe Labozetta, bass
THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC
Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11~ Gabriel Faure
Wana Baraka ~ Kenyan Folk Song arranged by Shawn L. Kirchner
The Lord Bless You and Keep You ~ John Rutter
When the Saints Go Marching In~ John Rutter
OTHER MASS MUSIC
We Are God's People ~ William Ferris
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say ~ arranged by Andrew Wright
Go to the World! ~ arranged by James Chepponis
Call To Remembrance~ Richard Farrant (1530-80)
If ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments ~ Thomas Tallis (1505-85)
Ave Verum Corpus ~ William Byrd (1543-1623)
DWELLING IN THE SORROW
God Be in My Head ~ John Rutter
Lord, Jesus Christ! From Prayers of Kierkegaard, Op. 30 ~ Samuel Barber
Kirsten Leslie, soprano
Evening Hymn ~ Patrick Godon – composed for this tour
From the End of the Earth ~ Alan Hovhaness, Op. 187
FINDING STRENGTH AND HOPE
O Spirit All-Embracing ~ Gustav Holst/setting by Richard Proulx
The Lord is My Shepherd ~ Thomas Matthews
O How Amiable ~ Ralph Vaughan Williams
Trio from Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12 ~ Camille Saint-Saens
Kirsten Leslie, soprano; Wayne Parham, tenor; Joe Labozetta, bass
THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC
Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11~ Gabriel Faure
Wana Baraka ~ Kenyan Folk Song arranged by Shawn L. Kirchner
The Lord Bless You and Keep You ~ John Rutter
When the Saints Go Marching In~ John Rutter
OTHER MASS MUSIC
We Are God's People ~ William Ferris
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say ~ arranged by Andrew Wright
Go to the World! ~ arranged by James Chepponis
Pilgrims
Patrick Godon, Director of Music
Soprano
Marsha Cote
Stephanie Demarest
Keri Godon
Sharon Howerton
Barbara S. Lea
Kirsten Leslie
BettyMarie Leslie
Diane Muss
Carolyn Sacksteder
Monica Wood
Alto
Virginia Brown
Kelsey Chigas
Ida Christensen
Barb T. Lea
Susan Licciardi
Judy Nocek
Olga Rivas
Tenor
Derek Chandruang
Ken McClain
Wayne Parham
Bass
Paul Cernek
Chuck Fiori
Joe Labozetta
Tom O'Malley
Ed Rolfsen
Organ
Todd Gresick
Friends of the Choir
Kathleen Godon
Maurice Godon
Lydia Yee
Wanda Yee
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Soprano
Marsha Cote
Stephanie Demarest
Keri Godon
Sharon Howerton
Barbara S. Lea
Kirsten Leslie
BettyMarie Leslie
Diane Muss
Carolyn Sacksteder
Monica Wood
Alto
Virginia Brown
Kelsey Chigas
Ida Christensen
Barb T. Lea
Susan Licciardi
Judy Nocek
Olga Rivas
Tenor
Derek Chandruang
Ken McClain
Wayne Parham
Bass
Paul Cernek
Chuck Fiori
Joe Labozetta
Tom O'Malley
Ed Rolfsen
Organ
Todd Gresick
Friends of the Choir
Kathleen Godon
Maurice Godon
Lydia Yee
Wanda Yee
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