The Dominican Sisters of Mary will further bring their ‘Joy to the World,’ as they have accepted an invitation to sing among other performers at the 96th annual White House National Christmas Tree Lighting. The event itself will be recorded Nov. 28 before a large audience on the Ellipse in President’s Park (White House lawn).
Sample: Christmas Proclamation
As is tradition, the Christmas Tree Lighting is a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Ovation and REELZ will broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting at 10 p.m. EST Dec. 2. The various partners have chosen the theme, ‘Through the Decades,’ which is meant to celebrate the Christmas season, with favorite holiday tunes.
Highlights across History
1940: President Franklin D. Roosevelt invoked the Beatitudes and during the lighting, called on “belligerent nations to read the Sermon on the Mount”
1945: Tree was lit for the first time since 1941
1954: First year Earl C. Hargrove Jr. decorated the tree with his friend and his company, Hargrove, Inc., has continued decorating responsibilities ever since. Hargrove fixed finicky bulbs while wearing a Santa costume.
1954: first “Christmas Pageant of Peace” with a pathway of smaller trees representing each state, territory and the District of Columbia
1983: Amy Bentham, 7, was among the children who helped the president light the tree after writing “Make-A-Wish” saying, “The Christmas tree that lights up for our country must be seen all the way to heaven.”
2007: Tree lights go partially LED
The Dominican sisters will sing selections from Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring: Christmas with The Dominican Sisters of Mary. ‘Jesu Joy’ features this choir of angels’ a capella arrangements as well as small chamber orchestra accompaniment tracks consisting of the sisters themselves playing the various instruments. The international album is released with De Montfort Music through Sony Music Entertainment.
Hardly strangers to culture impacting invitations which share their much beloved community where possible, the sisters have released other Billboard and Amazon #1 Classical chart-topping recordings.
The sisters may also be recognized due to their multiple appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” as well as on NBC’s Today Show, The Associated Press, NBC News Nightly, NPR, Good Morning America, Telegraph UK, Fox & Friends, CBS This Morning.
Elaborating on their tradition of sharing their multi-sensory presentations of encounters with truth, beauty and goodness, in addition to the ‘Jesu Joy’ recording, the Sisters have also released a beautiful, Advent Journal designed to guide hearts through the season of Advent, leading up to Christmas.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the ornaments for the smaller surrounding trees representing each state, territory and the District of Columbia. Selections include states where Phoenix seminarians study:
KTAR reported on the Phoenix students who created Arizona’s ornament.
Colorado
As a Colorado blue spruce, I was excited to see an ornament from #Colorado students at @ChappelowAMS. Doesn't this look SO PRETTY!? #NCTL2018 #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque pic.twitter.com/687p6tuq0V
— The National Tree (@TheNationalTree) November 15, 2018
Indiana
Massachusetts
Nebraska
Ohio
Wednesday night I will get a chance to see this hanging on the Ohio tree by @TheNationalTree at the @WhiteHouse. So excited! Thank you @NatlParkService and @OHEducation for selecting MJHS! #NCTL2018 pic.twitter.com/QoW6CJRwfx
— EaglesFineArts (@ArtsEagles) November 27, 2018
