• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

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.

 

Latest News

Florida Highway Patrol says it clocked this Ford Mustang GT at 142 mph on Interstate 75 late Friday.
  • June 27, 2026
Sarasota driver charged with hitting 142 mph on Interstate 75
The lunch and dinner buffet at Der Dutchman is available from 11:45 a.m. to close. The breakfast buffet is offered from 7 to 11:15 a.m.
  • June 27, 2026
Sarasota Amish eatery ranks as No. 2 buffet restaurant in US
Savanna at Lakewood Ranch's Camden Bedinghaus, 23, is running for the District 5 seat on the Manatee County school board to be a "voice for his generation."
  • June 26, 2026
Lakewood Ranch 23-year-old wants to represent Gen Z on Manatee school board
1000 Boulevard of the Arts will replace a portion of the former Hyatt Regency hotel and parking structure, which have been demolished.
  • June 25, 2026
A glimpse inside the new planned Hyatt Centric hotel

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

MJ Price
  • June 26, 2026
Voices of America: How do you reflect your patriotism?
Commodore Saul Landesberg assumed his new leadership role with the Bird Key Yacht Club at the passing of the gavel on June 20 at Art Ovation Hotel.
  • June 25, 2026
Bird Key Yacht Club leadership looks forward to clubhouse completion
Bill Schey is a Marine Corps veteran and a board member for the Folds of Honor Southwest Florida and Chicago chapters (with his wife, Connie Schey).
  • June 25, 2026
Voices of America: What is a patriot today?
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Past President Michael Garey said he heard of the Miracle League of Manasota when his daughter, Amelia, volunteered as a buddy to the athletes. Garey suggested the 501(c)(3) as the club's new charitable partner, which board members recently accepted.
  • June 22, 2026
Accessible baseball league benefits from Kiwanis pancake breakfast funds
Palmetto community leaders showed up strong at Longboat Island Chapel's latest charity drive to support Mt. Carmel Resource Center on June 16. From left, Deputy Ken Jewett, Sgt. Joy Jewett, Chief of Police Scott Tyler, City of Palmetto Mayor Daniel West, Shirley Pearson, executive director of Strength in Action, Inc., Rev. Brock Patterson, Pearson's sister Laura Wallace, and Town of Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton.
  • June 20, 2026
From food to furniture, chapel's programs continue to make an impact
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free