Hundreds turn out to Christian music concert in Naperville

The Millennium Carillon was the center of attention Sunday night as part of a Christian music concert sponsored by several area Catholic churches.

Hundreds of people packed the lawn in front of the monument in Naperville's Rotary Hill to listen to three noted Christian artists combine their talents with the huge bell tower as part of Praise in the Park.

Families spent the evening sprawled out on the grass and sitting on lawn chairs and blankets during the show, which featured singers John Angotti, Jorge Rivera and Aaron Thompson.

Dave Jones and his sister, Stephanie Jones-Kastelic, joined family and friends at the park. The pair, whose family owns the Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home in Naperville, were among the dozens of show sponsors.

"We thought it would be a great family gathering on a Sunday," said Dave Jones, a parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Naperville. "We just had John Angotti work at our church for a year helping to put on the music. He's great."

This was the second year for the concert, which is organized by nine Catholic parishes in Naperville, Lisle, Aurora and Woodridge. Last year's concert at St. Thomas drew 1,500 people, and a similar turnout showed up for Sunday's showcase.

Jon Greene of Naperville learned about the concert at his parish, St. Raphael in Naperville.

"It's a great gathering of people for a single purpose," the 21-year-old Naperville man said while taking a break from tossing a football on the lawn.

Maureen Lipa of Naperville and her family decided to make a night of it, taking a position on top of the hill and eating a chicken dinner while listening to the concert.

"We thought it was a nice idea that all the parishes got together to host this," Lipa said. "It's been a great show."