Following their arrival in Minneapolis, the girls and their chaperones enjoyed sightseeing and an overnight stay in the city. They visited the Ward family hobby farm in Madison Lake, Minn. on July 22 where they met the family’s two horses. Next stop was Duck Lake for some swimming and kayaking. The choir performed at an afternoon concert for sisters and staff Our Lady of Good Counsel in Mankato.
On July 23, the group flew to Milwaukee where they received hospitality and accommodations at Mount Mary University. Their visit to the Notre Dame of Elm Grove Community included an evening performance in the Holy Family Chapel and a dessert reception with the sisters and guests. They were welcomed to Notre Dame Middle School in Milwaukee on July 24 where the choir sang a standing-room-only-concert for students, teachers and guests in the school’s chapel. They capped off their Wisconsin visit with a walking tour of the lakefront.
The Missouri section of the tour began on Friday, July 25 where the group enjoyed sightseeing in the St. Louis area and were hosted at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Ill. On Saturday, the choir sang for the SSNDs, and other residents, living at the continuum of care community for older adults in Bridgeton, Mo., known as The Sarah Community. The students ended their performance by singing the school song in honor of Sister Clarea Hotze, SSND, who has been a Sister for 73 years and spent nearly 50 years in education and administration in Kyoto, Japan, where she served as the principal at Notre Dame Elementary from 1959-1964 and 1967-1971.
On Sunday, the choir came to the Theresa Center Chapel at the SSND Sancta Maria in Ripa campus. Attendees at the concert included seven Sisters who served previously in Japan, and three Sisters from Japan who now live in St. Louis.
“Everyone I spoke with following these two concerts was so impressed by these singers,” commented Sister Jean Schmid, SSND, who served in Japan for 35 years and attended both Missouri concerts. “The overall impression was how beautiful and powerful their voices were and how children at this young age could perform in such a professional manner.”
How has music blessed your life?