The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the University of St. Thomas campus in St. Paul will be the site of a Dec. 4 Christmas by Candlelight concert featuring students from nine Catholic schools across Minnesota.
Edina-based Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE) will host the concert in partnership with the university. The event will include more than 250 elementary school students performing with members of the St. Thomas Liturgical Choir.
Readings from Scripture and sacred music will highlight the 7 p.m. concert, which is titled Christmas by Candlelight: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Each participating school will receive a $1,000 grant to celebrate and strengthen their music programs. The evening also will honor Catholic school music educators, CSCOE officials said in a news release.
Students performing at the concert will hail from Ave Maria Academy in Maple Grove; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Brooklyn Park; Pacelli Catholic School in Austin; St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Buffalo; Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Marshall?; St. Helena Catholic School in Minneapolis?; Faithful Shepherd Catholic School in Eagan; St. Therese Catholic School in Deephaven?; and Mary of Lourdes Catholic School in Little Falls?.
CSCOE is a nonprofit that works with Catholic elementary schools in Minnesota to enhance excellence and increase enrollment.
