Mormons and Catholics blend unite in Christmas program on Mesa Arizona Temple grounds
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
MESA, ARIZ.
Twelve years ago, the president of the Gilbert Arizona Stake thought that the Gilbert community would be benefited and community relationships strengthened if his stake and the local parish of the Catholic Church could interact and build a bridge of friendship using an interest common to both, music.
The first three years of this relationship saw each congregation prepare separate choral numbers and sing at the other's building. After shedding concerns and apprehensions, the choir directors for the parish and the stake combined their efforts to create a joint choir comprised of both faiths. They chose to prepare numbers to sing during the Christmas season to emphasize their common beliefs and values. One performance would be held at St. Anne's Catholic Church and the other at the Mesa Arizona Temple during the annual Christmas lights display.
For the past nine years, this tradition and relationship has flourished. The combined choir has evolved to include a bell choir and small ensemble to add to the full complement beautiful music to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The bells used by the choir are loaned to them by St. Anne's Parish while the rehearsals take place at the Gilbert Arizona Stake Center.
The choir concluded this year's event by singing outside the Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors Center, Sunday evening, Dec. 13. Under direction of Jan Gilyeat, the musical numbers included Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," the "Carol of the Bells," the latter of which had the bell choir as its accompaniment. The concert concluded with the choir's annual finale of "Peace, Peace," which symbolizes the choir's effort to bring peace and harmony to the Gilbert community regardless of religious affiliation.
As a result of this endeavor, a greater understanding and acceptance of each community has taken place. Friendships have been shaped and other joint community service projects have arisen.
