For as long as I’ve been a member of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, then Holy Apostles after the merger of SSPP and St. John Parishes, my family (kids while growing up), and Sally and I, for about the past 40 years, have had the honor of expanding our faith, and praying in a different way, every time we were in church when the SSPP/Holy Apostles Choir was singing. Under the direction of Mr. Bill Chandler for so many years, and now his daughter, Mrs. Anne Dolce, after retiring and literally passing the baton on to her, we have been able to musically pray in full voice as we were led in song by the amazing voices, the organ (played by Ms. Alice Jean Hoffman and later, Ms. Donna Gatz) and sometimes added orchestral instruments, the choir offered during their singing season.

During the time we had the pleasure of hearing, and sometimes singing with, the SSPP/Holy Apostles Choir, it was not just at Mass where and when they performed. Holidays were a very special time for the choir, as they sang so beautifully for Christmas services, especially for Midnight Mass. For many years they entertained and motivated those attending Midnight Mass, by doing a 90-minute concert before the Midnight Mass began. All total, we experienced so much Christmas Spirit and Joy, you might have thought you were standing under that Star of Bethlehem back 2000 plus years ago.

The choir did some wonderful side performances though the years too. As a member of the Celtics Club, a group of Catholic men, who meet monthly, we have an annual Christmas gathering with our spouse or a friend, and for those years I have attended, the SSPP/Holy Family Choir, came and led us in a sing-a-long to get us ready for the upcoming holiday. They also performed for the Lions Club before Christmas as well. In 2003, the choir released a beautifully performed album and CD titled, “A Christmas Night in David’s Town,” which Sally and I have in our music collection at home.

It wasn’t just the Christmas season that got the choir going. Come St. Patrick’s Day for many years, and appealing to many of Irish descent in the parish and community and others, be we/they Irish or not, the choir performed some wonderful Irish favorites in concert form. They were so well done, you’d have thought you were having a sip of the “good stuff” with Father Fitzgibbon and Father O’Malley, while singing, “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra Loo-Ral,” in the rectory of St. Dominics Church.

When it was approaching the Easter Season, the choir took on two very important days in the Church Year, as they performed the hard and sorrowful last 3 hours of Jesus on Good Friday, with their emotional singing of “The Seven Words of Christ.” Two days later, the choir, literally and befittingly, announced the Glory of Easter Sunday with the jubilation and solemnity of that most important day in the Liturgical year.

The choir also recently performed patriotic numbers at Mass, on the weekend of Veterans’ Day, to honor those who served our country.

As there are spinoffs of TV shows sometimes, there were some spinoffs of the SSPP/Holy Apostles Choir through the years as well. A children’s choir brought together by Ms. Gatz, was organized for, and with, a group of young people, who called themselves the Jubilate Singers. To me, there may be only a few things more moving than the tenderness and innocence of a group of children/young people in musical voice. We have been able to enjoy them for a while in Holy Apostles Parish.

Another spinoff of the SSPP/Holy Apostles Choir offered the sweet melodic sounds of chimes with the formation of The Bell Choir directed by Mrs. Dolce. This was another wonderful component of the music ministry at SSPP/Holy Apostles Parish locations.

I know there are many wonderful church choirs in our area, and school choirs, and children’s choirs as well. I’ve heard many of them on occasion and have enjoyed them very much. I say the same thing regarding Musical Stage Plays that happen in and around our area, including local and major artist concerts and plays, as well.

This narrative today, is presented to, and for, this specific choir, as my way of saying Thank You to anyone who has been part of the gift of the SSPP/Holy Apostles Music Ministry during all the time we’ve been members of SSPP Church and Holy Apostles Parish.

As kids, we were always taught (and made) to send thank you cards, or notes, to anyone who gave us a gift for Christmas, or Birthday, or for any other special reason. Being that this is the Christmas season, and this choir has been an amazing gift for us to enjoy over many years, we need to thank God for this amazing gift of people, and thank those people for sharing their talent and dedication in inspiring us, motivating us, and entertaining us these past 40 plus years.

We don’t know what will happen with this wonderful choir in the next few months or so, with the possible, impending closing of SS Peter and Paul Church and the incorporation of Holy Apostles Parish with St. James. My hope is that I will be able to hear this choir for another 40 years, but whether I do or don’t, I want, and very much need to say thank you, to Mr. Chandler, Mrs. Dolce, and all the “spinoff” directors, musicians, and beautiful voices who have added to our devotion and prayer for over four decades. Thank you, for all of you, and may God Bless each, and every, one of you!