Mount Saint Mary College presented its annual Christmas Vespers,
the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols with the Mount Saint Mary
College Choir and the Saint Philip's Church Choir, accompanied by
the Hudson Valley Chamber Players on Sunday, December 5.
The Mount Choir and the Saint Philip's Church Choir were
directed by Durward Entrekin, professor of music studies at the
Mount.
Father Francis Amodio, O.Carm., offered the Bidding Prayer to
begin the service. Lessons were read by Ryan O'Grady, a senior at
Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park; Elaine O'Grady,
the Mount's executive director of operations and housing; Linnea
Mowat, a Mount sophomore; Laura Mowat of the Mount's Office of
Finance; Sr. Lorelle Elcock, prioress of the Dominican Sisters of
Hope; Kelly Yough, associate dean of students; James Gearity, chair
of the Mount's Division of Business; Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM,
Mount president; and Abel Garraghan, chair of the Board of
Trustees.
The readings were followed by a candle lighting
ceremony.
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was composed by
Archbishop Benson while he was Bishop of Truro. It was later
modified for use in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, in 1918 by
its then Dean, the Very Reverend Eric Milner-White, to whom we also
owe the Bidding Prayer.
The College is grateful to Mr. Nicholas Valentine of Broadway
Tailors for his continued support, and to the Dominican Sisters of
Hope for the use of their Newburgh Center Chapel.