June: Two Concerts!

May 30

"Music is the language of the spirit.
It opens the secret of life bringing peace,
abolishing strife" - Kahlil Gibran

No one declared June the month of music but at St. Francis it might appear to be. Michele Beck, our Director of Liturgy and Music, has been working hard for over a year to bring the world acclaimed Irish tenor, Emmet Cahill to St. Francis. He has a spectacular voice and the Irish lilt in his voice gives extra credence to the classic Irish songs and to everything else he sings. I have no doubt we will all enjoy this concert. Please join us at St. Francis Church on June 28th, 3:00 PM. The doors open at 2:15 PM. Tickets can be purchased on our website or through the QR Code on the flyer on page five.

A bit more than two weeks prior to the Emmet Cahill, concert St. Francis Parish will also be hosting an Interfaith Performance by LBI’s own, The Island Singers.

About a year ago, Rabbi Michael Jay contacted the pastors of the churches on LBI. He reminded us that prior to Covid the faith leaders would gather on a regular basis. The meetings were not meant to be anything more than an opportunity to break down some of the barriers that may exist either because of ignorance, fear, competition, or simple complacency. The opportunity to be brother and sister to one another is at the root of all our faith traditions. Rabbi Jay hosted our first meeting, and we have met almost every month since. We have hosted the meeting a number of times at St. Francis Center, as has the Jewish Community Center of LBI, Holy Innocence Episcopal Church in Beach Haven, and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Barnegat Light.

I think Fr. Kevin, Fr. Matt, and Sr. Pat Klemm would agree with me that there is a wonderful connection amongst all of us although we come from different faith communities and tradition. When we sit around the table to talk and pray, we recognize that even before we are believers we are people. Real people who have lives and loves as well as fears and joys.

What better way for us to celebrate our commonality than through music. Billy Joel is quoted as saying, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”

It is for this reason that our LBI Interfaith Leadership Group will be hosting a concert by “The Island Singers” in the St. Francis of Assisi Church on Wednesday, June 10th, at 7 PM. You will notice in the advertisement we are asking you to register for this concert. It also states that we reserve the right to inspect bags and ask that no one come with backpacks. This is a free event. You can register on our webpage or through the QR Code in the column next to this letter.

You may ask yourselves why we need to do all that to simply go to a concert. The short answer is our world continues to be violent where there should be none. Because antisemitism is still a very real thing in our country, we all believe that wisdom counsels us to be extra cautious for this interfaith concert. I ask that you please bear with these minor inconveniences so we can truly celebrate our commonality and the unity amongst all our brothers and sisters on Long Beach Island. We remember Jesus’ ultimate prayer was that “we all may be one.” Jn 17:21

I hope you can join us for the Cahill Concert on June 28th and the Interfaith Concert on June 10th.

May Peace and All Good be our today and every day.