‘O Holy Night’

PARSIPPANY “O Holy Night” was the theme of this year’s diocesan Christmas concert held Dec. 6, the Second Sunday of Advent, in St. Peter the Apostle Church here.
The concert featured the diocesan choir directed by Preston Dibble  and new this year  the diocesan children’s choir, directed by Christine Wilson and Dibble. Accompaniment was provided by Vincent Carr, organist/pianist and the Madison Brass Quintet.
The children’s choir, formed this fall so that young people from across the diocese to could express faith in song, performed “Go Tell It On the Mountain” and “Today, Christ is Born” while joining with the diocesan choir for “Silent Night” and “Walk in the Light.”
Among the hymns the diocesan choir performed were: “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle,” an Italian hymn attributed to St. Alphonsus; Tota Pulchra Es, Maria, an antiphon for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; “The Word Was God,” based on John 1:1-3, the Gospel for Christmas Day, and “O Holy Night.”
In his remarks, Bishop Serratelli marveled at the performances of the choirs, as he pointed out how at this time of year, “we are surrounded by the many beautiful songs of this great feast  songs that belong to the birth the Christ Child.” It is a time, as the concert was, he said, “to raise our voices to God in thanksgiving for sending his son to us as our Savior.”