RESIDENTS OF A WESTMINSTER assisted-living facility got a special holiday treat this year as the local Catholic school students packed their activity room for a Christmas show.
Wearing their green plaid uniforms and decked out with jingle bell necklaces and festive hats, 35 students performed nine songs for their elderly neighbors.
BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC SCHOOL CHOIR POSES FOR A GROUP PHOTO FOLLOWING A PERFORMANCE FOR RESIDENTS OF WESTMINSTER TERRACE SENIOR LIVING IN WESTMINSTER ON DEC. 9. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“On behalf of all the residents, you’ve blessed us so much,” resident ambassador Amy Dela Rosa said to the youngsters when the concert concluded. “Thank you for coming. You were wonderful and we want you to come again.”
Blessed Sacrament Catholic School’s choir put on a Christmas performance on Dec. 9, at the Westminster Terrace Senior Living Center, located a short walk from their campus. The choir, which included students from first grade all the way up to seventh grade, sang favorites like Jingle Bells, Silent Night and Feliz Navidad before closing out the show with We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
“It was pretty fun singing for the seniors with all my friends,” said seventh- grader Helena Ly, 12. “I think they thought it was pretty fun too.”
The choir was led by third-grade teacher David Vu, who dressed for the occasion in a red-and-white Santa suit complete with hat. He also accompanied the students on piano. After the show, Vu said he felt the students did a wonderful job.
“It’s a great opportunity to share Christmas cheer with the community that is right next to ours,” Vu said. “It’s a blessing to be able to share this with them.”
Although it is Advent season, Vu said he hopes the performance helped his students — many of whom are his current or former pupils — realize that it is also the season of joy.
“There is always an opportunity to spread joy and spread the peace of Christ to everyone, especially here in our community and everywhere else that we can,” Vu said.
Vu, who started at the school as the music teacher, spoke to the residents between each song and highlighted the students, some of whom are new to the school. Others have been there for as many as eight years. Vu spoke how most of them aren’t only giving their time to choir, but also to the arts, sports and volunteer activities.
The oldest students, those in seventh grade, also shared their favorite memories of their time at Blessed Sacrament. From snowball fights with crumpled math work to learning to use handbells and decorating gingerbread houses in December, the students’ best memories all revolved around the holidays.
For seventh-grader John Nguyen, 12, who has been in the choir for just a couple months, the concert was a chance to do two things he likes.
“I like singing and I feel like it makes people happy,” Nguyen said.
Fifth-grader Madison Odoca, 10, said the experience was “very fun” and that she wasn’t nervous at all. Singing, Odoca noted, is what she likes the best.
“I love singing,” Odoca said. “It’s my passion and I love just expressing myself through my voice.”