Childhood memories, soaring notes, haunting melodies, joyful lyrics? Why do some Christmas songs make our hearts quiver and our souls melt? The Hawaii Catholic Herald asked a few friends to name their most favorite Christmas carol and to explain what made it special. Here are their responses compiled and gently edited.
Karen Kung, diocesan human resources/Safe Environment coordinator
“My favorite religious Christmas carol is ‘Away in the Manger.’ My daughter Karring played the angel one year while a student at Sacred Hearts Academy. I think she was in the first or second grade. She practiced and practiced singing that song, and loved being the angel! I as her mom will never forget that moment when she came out as the angel with that beaming smile on her face … so precious! The song always reminds me of the humble birth that the blessed Lord had for us all. Every time I hear that song, I remind (Karring) about how precious she was!”
Michael Rockers, superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools
“As a youth our family only had a couple of Christmas albums, so we heard the Andy Williams album a million times. He makes singing seem effortless. I still like listening to the ‘Christmas Present’ song (and) its message that ‘Christ being present is the best present!’”
Makana Aiona, diocesan young adult ministry coordinator
His favorite Christmas carol is “O Holy Night,” particularly the rendition by the Celtic Woman vocal group.
“My mom’s dad is Scottish/English (his last name is Welsh) so it was a little more touching for us to see people from her dad’s homeland singing this song together. I love the lyrics and the imagery of everyone falling to their knees in honor of the Christ child. The Resurrection of Our Lord (parish) Praise and Worship Team played it at the Next Step Shelter in Kakaako for ROL’s Confirmation Epiphany project last year. Though it may not have gotten people to fall on their knees, it really made me think and ask myself, am I ‘falling on my knees’?”
Lisa Sakamoto, diocesan finance officer
Her favorite Christmas carol is “O Holy Night.”
Sakamoto said versions by “(Luciano) Pavarotti, Michael Crawford, Celine Dion, Josh Groban are all magical. However, when I heard Willie K sing it with the Hawaii Youth Symphony one year, it brought me to tears. It was amazing to see this local Hawaiian belt out my favorite Christmas carol!”
Robert Mondoy, diocesan musician
His favorite Christmas carol is “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” a French Canadian hymn. “I like the way the community and music ministry sing it at St. John Vianney (Church in Kailua). We add lightly beating drums to sound like American Indian music. The haunting tune, from a French Carol ‘The Young Maiden’ really sets one up for the cultural viewpoint of the Huron Indians as met by the famous French Jesuit missionaries, who were eventually martyred. The child wrapped in rabbit skin, having hunters, rather than shepherds, adore him, and chiefs instead of wisemen … how thoughtful and rich to bring the Christ to a new people in their language, their world-view, their own heritage of grace. I wonder if St. (Kateri) Tekawitha actually sang this song, too.”
Joeleny Isidro, parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Ewa Beach
Her favorite Christmas song is “Joy to the World,” particularly the rendition by the praise and worship group, Hillsong. “When I was in elementary (school), I remember one of our annual Family Affair Organization parties, which took place on Christmas day. It would include three generations of families, held at an Ewa Beach home. We sang ‘Joy to the World’ and reenacted the Nativity. Joy comes from Jesus Christ, who is present in the Eucharist. When others allow Jesus Christ to come into their heart and live out the call, it brings joy to the world.”
Mary Duddy, moderator of the tribunal chancery
“My favorite Christmas song is ‘Silent Night.’ I remember my mom used to sing it, and we had a Christmas pageant at school one year where we all dressed as angels and sang all three verses with motions. It was beautiful.”
Dennis Muth, parishioner at St. Anthony Church in Kailua
“For me, Uncle Willie K’s version of ‘O Holy Night’ is a huge fave of mine. He’s just an amazing all-around musician and singer, nobody like him in Hawaii. The last sustaining notes of that song never fail to move me; you just feel his soul is laid out on the table. Just when you think he’s out of breath, he keeps holding the same note all the way to the very end. Powerful! The fact that he incorporates Hawaiian in the middle is also very touching. I can’t imagine there would ever be a better version than his for this song.”
Margie Sison, diocesan finance office
“‘Joy to the World’ is one of the songs we always sing when I was a little girl going from house to house singing Christmas carols in the Philippines. Christmas is the time of the year to rejoice and be glad — Christ Jesus, the Savior of the World is born!” Sison said her favorite versions of the song are by “artists from the Philippines like Martin Nievera and Lea Salonga. Because they sing from the heart.”
Dara Perreira, diocesan director of human resources
“It’s a tie between ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ and ‘Ave Maria.’ I like Celine Dion’s rendition of ‘Ave Maria.’ No favorite rendition of ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel.’ I like the lyrics of both songs. The word ‘rejoice’ stands out in ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel,’ and ‘Ave Maria’ sung by the right woman sounds so angelic.”
Shell Blaisdell, parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, Manoa
“My favorite Christmas song is ‘Joy to the World!’ It is because after every Christmas Mass, the congregation sings it so loud and it is so powerful, and like the song says, joyful! Celebrating the greatest gift of all, (Jesus), who has the power to change every heart and every thought of every living human, believer or not!”
Lisa Gomes, diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry director
Her favorite song is “Stille Nacht” or “Silent Night” in German. Gomes likes the version by the Italian singing group Il Volo, which she describes as “perfectly done.” “When I was teaching, my eighth graders sang this song for our Christmas program,” she said. “My grandmother, who is German, helped with the pronunciation of the lyrics. This song reminds me of my heritage and those middle-schoolers.”
