On Sunday, June 12 at 4:00 pm in St. Peter’s Church in Woodbridge, we will have the opportunity to attend a memorable concert to celebrate and honour Pope John Paul II’s Beatification, which took place on the Sunday of the Divine Mercy of this year.
Only six years after his death, John Paul II has been hastened to beatification due to the saintly nature of his life, his death and after his death.
To celebrate this event, we will have for the first time in Canada an international guest singer from the famous La Fenice Theatre in Venice, Italy: soprano Michiko Hayashi. This well-known singer was invited by UCEMI to perform live for the Toronto audience a selection of songs from her recent CD “Sognando Lui”, with original music and lyrics written in honour of Blessed John Paul II and composed by Giovannina Menin.
These beautiful songs, accompanied by electronic music, communicate true faith and their lyrical texts are splendidly interpreted by the powerful voice of Michiko. It will surely touch all listeners, causing them to soar in a heavenly dream.
Those who love beautiful music will be happy to know that the great artist from Venice will be performing with Coro San Marco Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Vergine degli Angeli”, Mozart’s “Laudate Dominum”, and with tenor Michael Nasato “Ave Maria”, an original composition by Italian Canadian musician Giampietro Posocco, who will be at the concert accompanying his composition on the trumpet.
There will also be local talents, like Alesandra Trimelliti, who will perform Gospel music in English.
The concert will conclude with a grand finale, where all the performers and the audience will join in singing “Va Pensiero” as a seal of our spiritual journey towards our Heavenly Home.
Light refreshments will follow the concert for those who wish to stay and meet artist Michiko and have her sign her CD they’ve purchased.The concert will be filled with emotional moments.
It will be opened by Rev. Thomas Rosica, who personally knew Blessed John Paul II very well, as he organized his visit to Toronto in 2002.
Rev. Rosica was the national director of World Youth Day that year.
This event will be a memorable afternoon, with the presence of an exceptional guest and many talents who have come together to celebrate. It is an event that celebrates our spirituality, our recent history, and it is well suited for families, and in a special way for those young people who are ready to celebrate World Youth Day in Spain — the very event that was initiated and instituted by Blessed John Paul II.
Tickets are $15. We recommend you purchase them ahead of time through your own parish office, or by calling St. Peter’s Church at (905) 851-3600,
or UCEMI at (416) 785-4311 ext. 230.
