Sunday, September 30, 2012

September 29, 2012 - Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian Utica, NY Saturday concert

The plaque on the front of the Parish Church reads “Celebrating 100 years of faith and tradition 1912-2012” The 100th anniversary of the Church and also the Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian were celebrated this weekend.

The Church grounds, the parking lots, and the surrounding streets were packed with the faithful as they returned to honor the healing Saints.
Once again The Red Band performed under the large tent on Saturday evening that followed the candlelight procession and Benediction.
The concert began with the playing of three National Anthems: The Star Spangled Banner, O’ Canada, and Inno Di Mameli the Italian National Anthem. They were followed by thunderous applause.

We performed three new songs. The first was “Banda Rossa March” – a peppy number that had the crowd bouncing to the rhythm. “O Solo Mio” – a new version in waltz time that filled the dance time, and “The Woodpecker Song” – in which the band was surprised to hear so many members of the audience singing the lyrics of this happy tune.
The dance floor was packed once again when we played an Italian favorite “Vieni Sul Mar” (Come To The Sea) and it stayed crowded right to the end for the ever popular “Theme from New York, New York”.
For photos please click on the following link

Saturday, September 15, 2012

September 15, 2012 - Saint Marianne Cope

On Saturday September 15, 2012 the Red Band performed at an event so rare that it might never occur in a person’s lifetime.

We shared in the celebration of the Canonization of a local Saint. Mother Marianne Cope was born Barbara Koob in Germany. She grew up in Utica NY, joined the convent in Syracuse NY and went on to work among the lepers in Hawaii.

After her death she was credited with two miracles, the Churches requisite for Sainthood. On October 21, 2012 she will be officially Canonized in Rome Italy.

The Mass today was celebrated at her parish Church - St. Joseph/St. Patrick on Varick St. in West Utica.

The beautiful ceremony touched on all aspects of her life. Music was performed in German by the Utica Maennerchor Choir. This was followed by the blowing of a conch shell and an Aloha prayer in Hawaiian.

The Mass featured the Greek Kyrie eleison and the Latin Agnus Dei – reminiscent of the days when the entire Mass was said in Latin.

At the close of Mass Sister Michaeleen Cabral sang the hauntingly beautiful “Hymn to St. Marianne” in Hawaiian and English.

After Mass the Procession included an honor guard of The Knights of St. John, the St. Michael’s Lancers, and the Knights of Columbus as well as visiting priests, nuns, parishioners, and local dignitaries. Also in the Procession a first order Relic and a newly arrived Statue of Saint Marianne – carved in Poland and quite an accurate rendition – right down to her gray eyes.

The Red Band escorted the Procession playing two new Hymns – Blessed Mother Marianne and For All the Saints.
We proceeded to the Home Site of the Koob family at 620 Schuyler St. Sadly the house is gone but the site is a grassy expanse with a colorful plaque of Saint Marianne. A wreath was placed at the site. The Church has purchased the lot.
After a brief ceremony the Honorable Robert Palmieri, Mayor of Utica, announced that the upcoming Canonization day on October 21 will be declared Saint Marianne Cope Day in Utica.


VIVA
St. Marianne Cope
VIVA

For many more photos
please click on the following link