COLLINGSWOOD – Decked out in Santa hats, reindeer antlers and Christmas sweaters, South Jersey’s Catholic young adults set out to bring joy to those around Haddon Avenue’s shopping district Dec. 10 and proclaim the reason for the season.
“We went out on mission to bring Good News [to all],” said José Rodriguez, director of the diocesan Office of Family and Youth Ministries, which organized the event.
After beginning the evening with hot chocolate and cookies at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish’s McLaughlin Hall, the 18 young adults set out on foot through the town for a 75-minute caroling journey that included faith-based standards such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
The group even stopped at the PATCO train station to greet those arriving and departing.
“We made people smile,” said Elizabeth Espinosa from Vineland’s Catholic Millennial Ministry, which had a sizable representation at the event.
Her friend Mariela Palaez agreed. “Once we started singing, we saw the joy on people’s faces.”
As passers-by stopped to hear the joyful tunes, Father Peter Gallagher, parochial vicar in Holy Angels Parish in Woodbury, handed out candy canes.
One of these encounters included a white-bearded man in a red suit.
“We evangelized to the Big Guy himself,” Rodriguez said. “Even Santa was reminded of all that Christmas is about.”
David Pirolli, director of the Catalyst Young Adult Ministry at Haddon Heights’ Saint Rose of Lima Parish, called the night a success – for him and his fellow carolers.
“We brought joy and hope, everything that Christmas stands for,” he said.
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