CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
Daughters of St. Paul Sister Fay Pele and Sister Margaret Timothy Sato
We journey through Advent in anticipation of Christmas, taking many paths as we prepare for Jesus’ birth. One of the ways I have gotten into the spirit of the season for many years is to attend the Daughters of St. Paul annual Christmas concert to stir my soul with songs of this beautiful season.
Two of the sisters in the Daughters of St. Paul choir have connections to the Pacific islands. The sisters also have a presence on Oahu with their convent and Pauline Book and Media Center in downtown Honolulu near the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
Sister Margaret Timothy Sato grew up in Kahili, attending church at both St. Anthony, Kalihi, and the cathedral. Sister Margaret Timothy was also previously assigned to the Honolulu convent and store. Sister Fay Pele is from Samoa and attended Sts. Peter and Paul Parish there.
The choir reflects the diversity of their order. The first time I attended one of their concerts on the Mainland they rolled out the palm tree with drums and began to sing a Hawaiian version of “Deck the Halls.” Well, that cemented the concert as a family tradition for me.
While they don’t sing “Mele Kalikimaka” during the show, they do sing some secular songs to engage a younger audience. Plus Sister Anne Joan Flanagan’s rendition of “O Holy Night,” will put any Scrooge in the spirit of Christmas.
Two years ago, I was mourning the loss of a dear friend who had died a few months before the concert, and when Sister Anne Joan hit that note, it flooded my mind, heart and spirit with light that lifted my sadness. In this challenging time, we all need that kind of light.
This year the concert like many other annual events will be virtual and available to anyone to watch for free. I asked the sisters how they feel about performing virtually instead of as an in-person experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJzNz6W9Atk
Sister Fay said, “The show must go on. It’s about bringing God’s love to the people.”
For Sister Margaret Timothy, not being on stage this year is strange.
“We have been on the road singing at concerts for the last 24 years,” she said. “It’s a ministry for us to bring Jesus’ message of hope to audiences.”
Celebrate the spirit of Christmas with your family and friends by singing, dancing and praying in a safe and socially distanced way at home while watching the aptly named “Home for Christmas.” It premiered Dec. 3 on YouTube and is available to watch throughout the entire month of December. Then visit the Pauline Bookstore website or Honolulu’s Pauline Book and Media store to buy CDs as stocking stuffers to support the sisters. The music is also available on Spotify.
My last question to the sisters, who are now both based in Boston, was to share one of the things they miss most at this time of year from home, and they both laughed and answered — Spam musubi!
Happy Advent and Mele Kalikimaka!
Link to website in Honolulu: pauline.org/Catholic-book-stores/ID/10/Honolulu-Hawaii-and-the-Pacific
Link to CD: paulinestore.com/glorious-night-christmas-concert-with-daughters-of-st-paul-3047-177833.html
Link to YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/DaughtersofStPaul
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a digital communications consultant based in California.