STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — You know the holiday season is close at hand when the melodious voices of the Sisters of the Daughters of St. Paul reverberate through Nicotra’s Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn during their annual Christmas Concert.
Thursday evening’s celebratory event, “A Happy Christmas Concert,” attracted more than 700 revelers who flocked to the Bloomfield venue, where faithful fans got to enjoy the smooth, sweet sounding songs of holiday joy and praise.
In addressing the crowd, Sister Nancy Usselman noted: “It’s always great for us to have a concert in New York. And tonight is the best moment of our concert season. All of us here together tonight can praise the Lord for the many gifts he’s given us.”
On the lively roster of popular holidays classics were familiar Broadway show tunes, a dance routine where the sisters always sport sparkly attire — and even a back and forth bantering session, an audience segment that always evokes chuckles and lots of oohs and aahs.
Definite standouts among the offerings — and there were many — were, “Angels Among Us,” the sisters’ signature song, where they can be seen making their way through the crowd as they meet and greet members of the audience, ‘O Holy Night,” a solo by Sister Anne Joan Flanagan, “Joy to the World,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” and “We Need a Little Christmas.”
Every concert is unique in and of itself say the sisters, so that each one becomes memorable in its own right.
The Daughters of St. Paul, known on YouTube as the “Singing Sisters,” travel the nation to spread the word of God through song.
“This is the 21st year of the Annual Daughters of St Paul Concert, and over this time we have raised in excess of $1.7 million for them,” said hotelier Lois Nicotra. “With more than 700 people in attendance tonight, this has become the ‘official’ start of the Christmas season here on Staten Island.”
She added: “This year’s proceeds will be used to continue to support the life and mission of the Daughters, as well as help with their mortgage for their permanent convent residence on Staten Island. The Sisters hold a very special place in our hearts and truly are angels to us.”
The sisters are members of a Roman Catholic international religious congregation founded in Italy back in 1915.
They entertain audiences right here at holiday time because in their own words, “Jesus gives us something to sing about.”
In a special heartfelt tribute, this year’s concert honored the memories of Monsignor James J. Dorney and Monsignor Joseph C. Ansaldi, longtime friends to the community of Staten Island, who passed within weeks of one another.