LAKE WORTH BEACH | Many members of Sacred Heart Parish participated in a Marian music concert Oct. 17 at the Lake Worth Beach church and performed exceptionally well, according to Salomé Mondelus, director of faith formation and youth ministry. With a profound love for Mary, she said the concert is close to her heart.
Sharing Mary’s “passion and example with our children is a calling I hold dear,” she said. “This year was our second Marian concert, and my hope is that this tradition will grow, reaching beyond our church walls to bring communities together. As the director, nothing is more important to me than helping our youth come together as one, encouraging them to discover and share their unique gifts and talents in service to the church.”
Youths involved in the parish FIYAH (Faithfully Igniting Youth to Adore Him) ministry were the featured singers, dancers and actors. Some of them reflected on the inspiring lessons learned about faith and teamwork.
Ten-year-old choir member Emma Pierre said she loves to sing and be involved in other activities. “I love the Marian concert. I felt like I could see Mother Mary’s journey to deliver her Son, Jesus Christ. I love singing for Mother Mary and thanking her for our Lord and Savior.”
Maria Miguel said her experience at the concert was amazing. A student preparing for the sacrament of confirmation, Miguel portrayed Our Lady of La Salette, a Marian apparition in France in 1846.
“I’m so thankful I got to represent her. She wore white garments, a shawl and a thin golden chain with a special crucifix,” she said. “On her head, she had a crown of flowers that looked so beautiful. I really loved her outfit and how peaceful and pure she looked. Our Lady of La Salette told the children about the importance of repentance and prayer in our everyday life. The Lady of La Salette’s message means a lot to me.
“Her story makes me think about how important it is to be kind, thankful and never take my faith or family for granted. To me, she represents hope and forgiveness, and she inspires me to live with more love, peace and faith every day,” Miguel added.
Being part of FIYAH has been an important part of life for 19-year-old Britney Marcellus. Specifically, “growing closer to God and learning how to use my gifts to serve others.”
While serving as a dancer and reader at the concert, “it was amazing to see how everyone’s gifts came together to create a beautiful act of worship. The music, the prayers and the shared energy of the youth group reminded me of the power of community and devotion,” Marcellus said. “It impacted me deeply by helping me feel closer to God and Mary, inspiring me to live my faith more actively, and showing me the joy that comes from serving and celebrating God alongside others.”
One of the choir directors for the concert, Johane Jeanty-Senat, who has been a Sacred Heart parishioner for 26 years, said the FIYAH choir was formed about three years ago with children from the Haitian community, singing at the parish’s Creole Mass. At the concert, her daughter Sarah sang in the choir, son Samuel portrayed the angel Gabriel and younger son Daniel was one of the angels. Teaching the performers about the Virgin Mary was a top priority, Jeanty-Senat said.
“I feel extremely proud of the work that the children are doing in the community,” she said. “Knowing that we have a hand in helping them learn about and grow their faith is so rewarding. The children love to sing, and you can see the joy in their faces whenever they are singing. They are a blessing to the community, and I pray that we can continue to learn together, grow our faith together and sing the praises of the Lord together.”
For more information on Sacred Heart Parish, visit https://sacredheartchurchfamily.com/, call 561-582-4736 or follow on Facebook and YouTube.
