By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

The reviews after a Valentine’s Eve concert by the Visitation Parish Children’s and Youth Choirs Feb. 13 at Shorrock Gardens Care Center were phenomenal.

“The kids had voices like angels! Everyone loved it,” proclaimed nurse supervisor Lucille Polizzi, who was among the staff attending. Parents pronounced the dinner time event “great for the kids” and the kids themselves, well, they called it amazing.

“I loved singing here and seeing all the happy faces,” said fifth grader Anthony Newcomb, who sang tenor. “It was a very good time.”

Father Edward Blanchett, pastor of Visitation Parish, who ministers regularly to the care center’s 147 residents, called it something really special. Looking on after the half-hour concert concluded as the 20-plus young people and their parents mingled in the large reception area with staff and some residents, he smiled.

“You can talk about God from the pulpit,” said Father Blanchett, “but nothing says God like reaching out into the community.”

And that was exactly the take away. From start to finish, the young people interacted with the residents, clearly delighting them with handmade Valentine’s cards and festive red beads. The songs they performed – including “Children of God,” “Jesus the Good Shepherd,” “Down to the River” and “Go Make a Difference” -- inspired smiles and applause all around.

When the residents joined in for a rousing, sing-along round of “You Are My Sunshine,” it was just magic, said Natalya Bencivenga, music director in Visitation Parish. “The kids loved it and the residents loved joining in. The kids are learning sign language and many signed the words as they sang.”

With events like this, “we gain so much more than we give,” said Bencivenga, whose daughters, Sophia, 10 and Olivia, 8, sang and played the handbells. “The whole room was smiling and clapping during the concert,” Bencivenga said.

All the parents recorded the evening on their cell phones to keep the memories fresh, she noted. “It was such a good idea to come here. There’s nothing much for young people to do in January and February and this was something for them to participate in. They were all so excited about it.”

The concert reflects parish participation at Shorrock Gardens where Mass is celebrated monthly for the residents, said Father Blanchett. “Many parents asked how the children could get involved with our outreach at the care center.”

It wasn’t long before the flourishing parish music program answered the call. The adult choir performed a concert last summer that went over very well and led to this mid-winter concert for the Children’s and Youth Choirs, he said.

The reaction at Shorrock Gardens has been totally positive, said Polizzi and Kathleen Smith, assistant director of activities.

“Music is wonderful and there is a real emphasis on it here in the dining room,” said Polizzi. Music fills air there during all meal times but “hearing the children’s voices raised in song added something very special to the Valentine festivities,” she said. “I can’t explain how good this was.”

Smith said she was so pleased to be at the concert. To “see the happiness in the eyes of the residents and see them clapping and singing is a wonderful thing,” a definite highlight in an all-round Valentine celebration that included a special menu on the day itself, a Valentine themed bingo game and movie.

The adult choir will return on March 27 at 5 p.m. for a concert with a St. Patrick’s Day theme, said Bencivenga. And the children signaled that they would like to do an encore in the near future as well.

“We really enjoyed making people happy and sharing the love with a lot of people,” said her daughter Sophia.