St. Thomas of Villanova's 'Not So Silent' Christmas Program Embodies Holiday Spirit

On Dec. 19, St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church in Palatine was bursting at the seams with Christmas cheer, as family and friends gathered to watch the 58th annual Christmas Program, performed by students in preschool through eighth grade at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic School.

The show was directed by music teachers Jane Liquin and Meghan Newell and began with the preschool 3- and 4-year-olds, who belted out adorable renditions of "Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem" and "Must be Santa."

This was followed by "The Not So Silent Night," a creative retelling of the birth of Jesus through a variety of song genres, including a 1950s ballad, a Caribbean melody and a Tango, to name a few.

Rounding out the performances was the beginner, intermediate, and advanced school bands, who played a collection of favorite seasonal tunes, including "Ode to Joy," under the direction of Band Director Charles Shapera.

The program ended with grand fanfare, as the whole student body presented "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," featuring fifth grade on hand bells, third grade on boom whackers, and first grade on children's hand bells.

The evening was made even more joyful when Principal Mary Brinkman publicly announced $150,000 in scholarship money currently earmarked for St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic School through Empower Illinois, which works to expand quality education options for low-income and working class families. The application process begins Jan. 15, 2019.

St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic School serves students in preschool through eighth grade. The school is at 1141 E. Anderson Drive, Palatine, IL 60074. For information about the school and applying for or donating to the Empower Illinois Scholarship Program, call (847) 358-2110 or visit the school's new user-friendly website, www.stvschool.org