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Nine Saipan parishes join Songfest 2015
Kids from the San Roque parish perform in the Songfest 2015 held last Saturday at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. (Jon Perez)
Part of San Jose Saipan parish choir that performed in the Songfest 2015 held last Saturday at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. (Jon Perez)
Rev. Fr. Ryan Jimenez, eighth left, and Sr. Ma. Rita Sochi, sixth join representatives of the nine parishes that performed in the Songfest 2015 held Saturday at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. (Jon Perez)
Nine Saipan parishes joined the fourth edition of Songfest 2015 held last Saturday at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa.
The annual event, which featured song and dances by young and old parishioners of the nine parishes, is organized by the Office of Religious Education program headed by director Sr. Ma. Rita Siochi, SJGS.
Siochi said the event has been an annual tradition of the diocese under the leadership of Apostolic Administrator Rev. Fr. Ryan Jimenez even before she arrived on Saipan three years ago.
“Before, they used to hold it on the Saturday after Easter. We just changed the date to highlight and remember the birth of Jesus. It is our way of giving thanks through singing,” said Sochi in a brief interview by Saipan Tribune. “It is also part of the Office of Religious Education to prepare the kids who will be having their first communion, confession, pre-confirmation, and confirmation.”
Saint Jude Parish kicked off the festivities with a Christmas pageant presentation. San Vicente parishioners opened the song presentation with their own rendition of Mary’s Boy Child.
San Antonio Parish followed with a medley of Silent Night, Deck The Halls, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Mt. Carmel sang Twelve Days of Christmas.
After an intermission where an offering was collected for the benefit of children in mission places, San Jose Saipan restarted the program with their own medley of Advent and Christmas songs.
Kristo Rai danced their way to Mary’s Boy Child and O My Lord while Santa Remedios had a Christmas in the Marianas-themed presentation.
San Roque saved the best for last with a modern take on Hark the Herald Angels Sing with rap, beat box, and breakdancing.
The Songfest ended with the community singing O Holy Night.
