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Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Tony Small, the music director at St. Bernardine, has written a play, "Wrapped in Love," that will be performed Dec. 17 and 18 at the West Baltimore parish. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

St. Bernardine among parishes wrapped up in Christmas spirit with concerts


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News

Tony Small knows firsthand how music can be a unifying force. That’s why the Grammy-award nominated music director at St. Bernardine in West Baltimore thinks “Wrapped in Love” is a fitting title for a performance to help celebrate the Christmas season and serve as outreach to the surrounding community.

The performance, written, produced and directed by Small, is scheduled for Dec. 17 and 18, 1:30 p.m. each day, at St. Bernardine Church in West Baltimore. A Christmas musical comedy, “Wrapped in Love” features members of St. Bernardine’s church family presenting what Small said are some of the more “hilarious” things he has seen in churches during his more than two-decade music ministry. The “skit with lots of music” will be followed by a Christmas concert.

Tony Small, a music educator Grammy nominee and music director for St. Bernardine Church in West Baltimore, teaches kids math and memory by using rhythm and music beats during summer camp August 18, 2022. Small has written a produced a Christmas play for St. Bernardine to be performed Dec. 17 and 18.(Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“It’s truly outreach,” Small said. “It’s a way to bring the community together and invite in people, especially those who aren’t Catholic. Holidays and music are always a great way to bring communities together.”

Monsignor Richard Bozzelli, pastor of St. Bernardine, said the performance will help people get more involved with their parish and share their gifts. It’s the first play St. Bernardine has produced in “many years.”

“It’s a way of drawing on the talents of our parishioners and giving people a chance to express themselves, not just with singing but also acting,” Monsignor Bozzelli said. “It’s important during this time of year to call forth the gifts of our parishioners.”

Monsignor Bozzelli said St. Bernardine plans to use the play and concert to help kick off a new community outreach program. The parish hopes to attract neighbors by offering music lessons to children twice a month on Saturdays. On alternate Saturdays, the church will offer cooking and sewing lessons for youngsters.

“It’s all about inviting people in,” Small said.

“Wrapped in Love” is just one of a number of musical performances being held throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore to celebrate Advent and Christmas.

Here is a sampling of a few of the other concerts hosted throughout the archdiocese during the Christmas season that the public is invited to attend:

  • Dec. 9, 7 p.m., Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore) – A Christmas concert and live “Greccio” nativity.
  • Dec. 11, 4 p.m., Concert at St. Joseph (Cockeysville) – Concerts at St. Joseph presents “Gaudete, Rejoice! Concert and Service.” It features sacred music of Advent and Christmas, including a choral work with narration on the Great O Antiphons with the St. Joseph Parish Choir and Schola and Dr. Lynn Trapp as director as well as the Deer Creek Youth Choir with Julie Culotta as director. 
  • Dec. 11, 4 p.m., St. Louis (Clarksville) – “Hallelujah: A Christmas Celebration” will be performed in a free community concert. Special appearances by the Orchestra of St. Louis, guest artists, soloists, and adult and children’s choirs will feature a medley of traditional carols, yuletide classics and contemporary favorites. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable, shelf-stable donations for the Howard County Community College Food Bank. Visit www.stlconcertseries.org.
  • Dec. 11, 7 p.m., St. Luke (Edgemere) – Christmas concert performed by Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke children’s choir. The performance will be repeated Dec. 18, 7 p.m., at Our Lady of Hope in Dundalk. The event is free.
  • Dec. 18, 5 p.m., Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (Baltimore) – Cathedral Choir Lessons and Carols. The Cathedral Choir will again present selected Scripture passages and sacred music. This year, the concert will also feature the Charm City Ringers Handbell Choir and Nikita Borisevich on violin. Free admission. 
  • Dec. 18, 12:15 p.m., St. Benedict (Baltimore) – Distribution Sunday will feature Carolers and Cookies. Meet in the parking lot between the rectory and church for a blessing followed by caroling around the immediate neighborhood, distributing cookies and prayer material. 
  • Dec. 18, 3 p.m., St. Joseph’s Monastery (Baltimore) – A free concert with the Bel Air Community Band Jazz Ensemble will be featured in the monastery’s main church. This 18-piece jazz band plays big-band hits of the ’30s and ’40s. The performance will include holiday favorites. A reception will follow the hour-long performance. A freewill offering will be collected to support the monastery music ministry. Call 410-566-0877.
  • Dec. 18, 4 p.m., St. Francis (Fulton) — Concert will feature sporano soloists Colleen Daly Eberhardt and Rebecca Vanover as well as the St. Francis handbell choir, adult choir and youth musicians.
  • Jan. 8, 4 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary (Baynesville) – “Greccio” Christmas Nativity Service will be part of a Sunday concerts series that is free and open to the public, held in person in the church. Call 410–883–5058 or visit www.givecentral.org/location/1059/event/24986

To have a Christmas concert event listed on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s events calendar, visit https://www.archbalt.org/events/

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@catholicreview.org

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