HOLDING A SINGLE CANDLE each, the choir of eight processed to the altar in the dimly lit sanctuary. The sopranos, altos, tenors and basses added their voices, blending the sounds into a sepulcher resonance that captured the attention of all and set the mood for the night’s festivities.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE’S CHOIR, THE SCHOLA CANTORUM, HOSTED ITS FIRST ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS SERVICE ON DEC. 20.
The Schola Cantorum of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in La Habra hosted its first Advent Lessons and Carols Service, entitled: “A Festival of Lessons and Carols Celebrating Advent and the Nativity,” on Dec. 20 — the final Friday before Christmas, which happened to be the last night of the parish’s second annual European-style Christmas market, El Mercado del Niňo Jesus.
BISHOP KEVIN VANN AND FR. WILLIAM GOLDIN ARE PICTURED DURING THE CLOSING NIGHT OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE LA HABRA) PARISH’S SECOND ANNUAL EUROPEANSTYLE CHRISTMAS MARKET, EL MERCADO DEL NIŇO JESUS. PHOTOS BY STEVEN GEORGES/
DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Bishop Kevin Vann attended the concert, gave the final blessing and joined the market afterward. During his blessing, Bishop Vann referred to how music “is a fair and glorious gift of God.”
“And we have truly experienced that this evening,” he added. “I believe that music has the power to touch hearts in the season of Christmas like no other. It brings us back to where we were born, our families, those who love us, those who taught us and those who taught us how to pray.”
The concert featured the parish’s professional choir, the Schola Cantorum, which performs with and alongside the parish’s volunteer choir, the OLG Parish Choir. In addition, Dr. Tom Mueller performed as guest organist before and during the concert.
Mueller, the music department chair and organist at Concordia University, also performed a prelude recital.
The Schola Cantorum performed popular tunes like “Silent Night” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” as well as ecclesiastical songs like “O Magnum Mysterium,” “A Hymn to the Virgin,” and “The Lord at First Did Adam Make.”
“It was great,” said parishioner Cecilia Castellanos. “I thought I was in Europe somewhere. It really touches you.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe Music Director Connie Salazar said she found the music uplifting and beautiful, and she hopes the audience walks away with its deeper meaning.
“I hope they will take away deeper sense of the Incarnation, the beauty and richness of our Catholic faith, the beautiful heritage of our music and what it does to our hearts and souls,” Salazar said. “It opens us up to prepare us to receive Christ in our hearts.”
Fr. William Goldin, parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, shared his thoughts on the evening.
“It was such a joy to welcome Bishop Vann for our wonderful Schola Cantorum’s first Lessons and Carols service, and to join our community in praising the Nativity of Christ in word and song.”
At the Christmas market, community members enjoyed the festivities for the final night. El Mercado del Niňo Jesus began on Dec. 8 and ran for 13 nights.
Lena Miller said she wanted to come again for the closing night.
“The team that has put it together has worked so hard, and for the last two weeks it’s been full of people just finding joy and community and coming together with the parish,” Miller said. “It’s really nice. It captures the holiday spirit.”
El Mercado del Niňo Jesus has been a chance to meet a lot of wonderful people, said Jeff Acton, who was volunteering his time at the Blessed Knight Cafe booth, a local nonprofit that incorporates art and coffee to create Catholic art in accessible ways.
“It’s been humbling and fruitful,” Acton added. “It’s been very relatable to see different people here than where we’re normally located. It’s been nice to see a community come together too, trying to support each other and have a nice festival for everybody to celebrate.”
Entering the market under an archway covered in garland and lights, a neon sign read, “Mercado del Niňo Jesus,” before opening up the European-style market. A creche hung with hundreds of lights welcomed visitors, as did a massive artificial Christmas tree surrounded by seven-foot real trees.
Adults also enjoyed “Santa Claus’ Tavern,” a tent filled with chairs, couches and tables for a bar serving mulled wine, beer and pomegranate skinny margaritas.
Nearby, Santa’s Workshop attracted toddlers who could color, play with wooden toys and dig in a sensory bin. Engrossed by the toys, children were given another surprise: a toddler-sized Christmas plush toy that played music.
Visitors munched on quesadillas, taquitos, pozole and funnel cakes as they browsed wares — everything from jewelry and Christmas gifts to necessities like diapers, Kleenex and kitchen gadgets. Pantry staples were also available for $1 a bag.
The jewelry booths were the perfect spot for Miller’s 8-year-old son to do all his Christmas shopping.
“He picked out for his aunt and his grandmas, and he was so excited,” Miller said.
As the night wore on, the festivities got merrier with line dancing lessons. Adults and three little boys boot scooted to “God Blessed Texas” as the instructor called out the steps.
“My grandkids just did line dancing, and I took a bunch of videos,” said parishioner Chiky Awad. “It was so cute!