Polish, Rwandan, and English song will fill the beautiful interior of Corpus Christi Church on Saturday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. during a prayer concert called “Christ Be My Light”.
Leading those in attendance in prayerful song will be the Kalina Singing Society, singing in English and Polish; the youthful family of Mary Palmer with contemporary English and Polish songs; the Mutuyimana Family, Catholics from Rwanda who settled in Buffalo singing their native worship songs; Laura Woloszyn playing sacred music on the French Horn; and the Corpus Christi Choir.
Kalina Singing Society, an all women’s choir founded in 1901, will sing in Polish and English, directed by Audrey Shafer. The Society has a distinguished history, earning many awards over the years. The choir has performed in many landmark venues, and sings during the annual Kolędy concert at St. Stanuslaus Church. The Society offers an annual scholarship to a female musician.
Laura Woloszyn will dedicate her solo of “In the Garden”, a well-known Baptist hymn to the victims of the massacre in the Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. She studied music at Catholic University. Laura has performed throughout Washington D.C including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle and the Lincoln Monument.
Mary Palmer and Family of Newfane, N.Y. sing in many area churches, and at special events such as the recent Corpus Christi Procession. Mary is the organist at Corpus Christi Church, teaches music at Baker Academy, and is completing her Masters in Music Education at Fredonia University. She sings in English and in Polish, and will be joined by her sister and nieces at Saturday’s concert.
The Mutuyimana Family journeyed to settle in Buffalo from Rwanda through Congo. They are currently parishioners of Corpus Christi Parish, where they most recently sang during the Feast of Corpus Christi Mass. The parents and three girls express their deep faith in song in their native language of Kinyarwanda, and in French.
Admission is Free for Saturday’s prayer concert, which will begin with a candlelit procession. It will take place on the weekend preceding the Feast of St. Cecilia, Patron Saint of Musicians. The church is located at 199 Clark St. off Broadway, one block from the Broadway Market. Parking is available in the parish lot.
