SongFest returns on joyous note

Houma’s St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church is the site for this year’s Ecumenical SongFest Sept. 25.

Minus a one-year lapse, SongFest has united Tri-parish church choirs in song since 1979. This year’s gathering includes four church choirs, First United Methodist churches of Houma and Thibodaux, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Roman Catholic Church of Thibodaux, and St. Francis, and two quartets, First Baptist Church of Thibodaux and Living Word Church of Houma.

Organizer Donna Samarco, who sings with Houma’s First United Methodist Church, describes the event as a singing concert.

“There’s no service or mass,” she said. “It’s just a night of celebration and praise through choir music of God’s great gifts.”

“I’m really excited about the ecumenical aspect of this event. It is such a tradition to unite these church choirs for one concert,” Sammarco added.

And the finale is certain to rouse souls. All four choirs collectively join in a performance of “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” “It’s always something everyone looks forward to, singing in the mass choir,” the event’s organizer said.

Another highlight of this year’s SongFest is First United Methodist’s performance of the “23rd Psalm,” a piece written by Sammarco’s husband, Paul, the teams the adult choir with the church’s youth choir, Voices of Light.

Admission is free and the concert begins at 7 p.m. A reception follows.

For more information, call Sammarco (985) 870-4706.

SONY DSC