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St. Mary Star of the Sea hosts Christmas party and concert

A soloist led the gathered members through a festive concert.


  • By Nat Kaemmerer
  • | 2:16 p.m. December 16, 2019
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • Share

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church wowed visitors with a concert and Christmas party. 

Michelle Giglio, a soloist with an amazing voice and a sense of humor, led listeners through a concert of classic Christmas carols and received a well-earned standing ovation after her final solo song. 

She then turned to the crowd and asked them to become something different. Giglio passed out papers on both sides of the crowd with each item from “The 12 Days of Christmas” and asked them to hold the identifier high as each one was sung off. 

After the crowdsourced carol, Giglio earned laughs with a rendition of “The 12 Days After Christmas,” in which the true love in the song has to find uses for all of the items her “beloved’ bestowed upon her. 

Attendees were asked to bring a toy as their entry fee into the show and social event. The table of toys outside the doors to the Father Pick Hall clued in latecomers to the crowded event they were missing. Dozens of toys were piled on a table to be donated to needy children in the area. 

Dozens gathered at St. Mary Star of the Sea.
Dozens gathered at St. Mary Star of the Sea.
Attendees waited in line for food.
Attendees waited in line for food.
Friends laughed together over food.
Friends laughed together over food.
Rich Tansey and Budee Jacobs.
Rich Tansey and Budee Jacobs.
Judy Brostroff and Irene Tansey.
Judy Brostroff and Irene Tansey.
Eileen McTiernan and Herman Waldman.
Eileen McTiernan and Herman Waldman.
Anne Kelley and Joan Stapleton.
Anne Kelley and Joan Stapleton.
Mary Elizabeth Carey sings with Father Gerry Finegan.
Mary Elizabeth Carey sings with Father Gerry Finegan.
Attendees held up papers to identify which of the 12 days of Christmas they represented.
Attendees held up papers to identify which of the 12 days of Christmas they represented.
Dozens of toys were heaped on a table.
Dozens of toys were heaped on a table.
Michelle Giglio serenaded the crowd.
Michelle Giglio serenaded the crowd.
The table was set with trees during the concert.
The table was set with trees during the concert.
A tree and even more toys greeted attendees.
A tree and even more toys greeted attendees.

 

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