By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

A shared love of service to the Church through music and a fervent desire to foster community by working together served as the foundation for two parish choirs to commemorate the feast of St. Cecilia, the patron of church musicians, to end the liturgical year and begin the Advent season successfully and prayerfully.

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This commemoration unfolded Nov. 19 in the gymnasium of the former Holy Family School, Lakewood, where members of the music ministries from the town’s two Catholic parishes, St. Mary of the Lake and St. Anthony Claret, joined together to share, as Cori Scotti put it, “an afternoon of fellowship in music.”

“The purpose of this event was to bring our Cohort team members together,” Scotti, choir director in St. Mary of the Lake Parish, said emphasizing how collaboration among parishes is a primary goal in the diocesan Faith In Our Future initiative. Also present was choir representation from Visitation Parish, Brick, also part of the Cohort, and from St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt.

The gymnasium was set up like a fair, where the 280 music ministers of all ages spent periods of time singing a variety of music in both English and Spanish, playing games such as “Musical Pin The Tail on the Note” and “Name the Composer.” Children’s activities were available and Scotti happily facilitated a session on voice instruction. In another area of the gym, participants learned about St. Cecilia and her music through a video and reflection given by Divine Word Father Pelagio Pateno of St. Anthony Claret Parish.

The center of the gym, however, served as a focal point of the afternoon. There music ministers “were able to listen, observe and congregate with one another,” Scotti said. In addition to the choirs, there were displays and representatives from other ministries from both parishes. The highlight of the choirs’ time together was rehearsing the music that was sung at the 5 p.m. Spanish Mass celebrated by Msgr. Ricardo Gonzales Pereira in St. Anthony Claret Church. Choirs joined voices for the Mass that marked the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The music was liturgical including contemporary and traditional hymns.

Following the Mass, a dinner featuring various types of food was held in the parish hall.

Reflecting on the collaborative spirit that has been fostered among the two parish music ministries, both Scotti and Ismael M. Rivera, music ministry coordinator in St. Anthony Claret for the past four years, acknowledged the support and encouragement received by the two pastors – Divine Word Father Pedro Bou of St. Anthony Claret and Father Michael D. Sullivan of St. Mary of the Lake.

Scotti and Rivera noted how the choirs collaborated earlier the year when they sang the National Anthem at the Blue Claws baseball game. When it was decided to come together again for the Feast of St. Cecilia, “we did think about the goals of Faith In Our Future,” said Rivera, who oversees six choirs in St. Anthony Claret.

“And the initial feedback I have received from our parishioners has been very positive,” he said.

Scotti agreed, saying “This was a particularly special event for us because we were able to bring music to so many and share and love one another as we were taught to do.”

Pete Custode, St. Mary of the Lake choir member, said the event “was a great day to share voices and it was important for us to support and learn from each other.”

“We are eager to collaborate because collaboration helps everyone to enrich their experience,” he said.

Linda Pesce said the choir members from Visitation Parish “truly enjoyed being part of the St. Cecelia Celebration and having the wonderful opportunity to pray together through our music.”

“I’m hoping there will be more events like this so that we can get to know other members of our Cohort and continue to grow in faith through sharing our music and our cultures,” Pesce said. “Music is truly a universal language that brings people together and touches our hearts.”