Lessons & Carols is an annual tradition of the Saint Peter's University and St. Aedan's parish communities. Though we were unable to gather this year in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, the tradition continued over nine nights in a virtual space, with readings and songs shared each evening from December 16 to 24.
In case you missed it, here is the complete Lessons and Carols 2020. Enjoy!
On the first night: "O Come All Ye Faithful", and words of welcome from Fr. Andrew Downing S.J., Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Saint Peter's University. Then, the first in a series of nine readings and songs: a passage from Isaiah, read by parishioners Lito and Elvie Quiray, and songs from Joseph Legáspi, SPU's University Director of Music, Paulo K Tiról, Assistant Director of Music at St. Aedan's, and Isabella Castillo, SPU Class of '23.
On the Second Night: A passage from Jeremiah, read by parishioner Maria Maderal; and the song "Amanecerá El Señor" from music minister Dennis Lansang.
On the Third Night: The story of the Annunciation, read from the Gospel of Luke by Crystal Nielsen, our youngest music minister at St. Aedan's; and "Magnificat" composed by Paulo K Tiról and performed by St. Aedan's music minister Abbie Enriquez and the Saint Peter's University Schola and Chamber Orchestra.
On the Fourth Night: Homilía Durante Nochebuena 1978 de Arzobispo Oscar Romero (Christmas Eve homily 1978 from Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador), read by Ana Zapata-Rendón, SPU Class of 2015; and "Raymond's Lullaby", sung by Paulo K Tiról.
On the Fifth Night: the poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" from In Memoriam by Alfred Lord Tennyson, read by Carmel Galasso, SPU class of '79; and sing the spiritual "Go Tell It on the Mountain" along with the Saint Peter's University Alumni Glee Club.
On the Sixth Night: the poem "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti, read by Dr. Eileen Poiani, special assistant to the president at Saint Peter's University; and sing along to "Silent Night", performed by the Saint Peter's University Schola and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Joseph Legáspi.
On the Seventh Night: the poem "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity" by John Milton, read by Dominick Mastrodonato, SPU Class of '20; and the song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" with the Saint Peter's University Schola, the Alumni Glee Club, and members of the university faculty and staff, led by Dr. Joseph Legáspi.
On the Eighth Night: Madeleine L'Engle's poem "Glimpses of Grace", read by Christian Visto, a parishioner at St. Aedan's and one of our new young lectors; then "The Work of Christmas", a beautiful text by theologian Howard Thurman, set to music by Paulo K Tiról and sung by Joseph Legáspi.
On the Ninth Night: A passage from the gospel of John, read by Israel Delgado, SPU class of '93 and parishioner and lector at St. Aedan's; and "The Wexford Carol", a collaboration between the Saint Peter's University Schola, the Boston City Singers, and the Keene State College Concert Choir.
And we conclude our nine days of readings and prayer with words from Fr. Rocco Danzi S.J., administrator of St. Aedan's parish, and one last song, "The First Noel", sung by the Saint Peter's University Schola and Chamber Orchestra with St. Peter's Prep Vox, led by Dr. Joseph Legáspi.
Thank you to all who helped out with Lessons and Carols 2020, and to all who joined us on these past nine nights. A blessed, meaningful Christmas to all!
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