The lights go out, the bells ring and the stars shine. In the month of November 2024, Christmas was experienced every Saturday evening in the Tabor Shrine of the Perpetual Presence of the Father in Atibaia/SP, Brazil.
In the soft light of candles, more than 500 participants took part in the retreat during these days and enjoyed the special event of the Christmas cantata performed by the choir of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.
This ceremony began with the choreography of the group “Stars of Hope,” teenage girls who lit up the night with their gentle and captivating dance. Bárbara Tafuri, the mother of one of the girls, described this moment with emotion: “I was delighted that my daughter Laura and her friends took part in the Christmas cantata. It was an enriching experience to see them dancing with joy and proclaiming the Christmas message.”
With Christmas stories and songs, the choir of the Sisters of Mary took the audience on a “journey.” Each song–classics such as “Holy Night” and the sisters’ own compositions–was part of a narrative connecting those present with the great mystery of the birth of Christ.
Débora Xavier Santos de Freitas was visibly moved as she described her first cantata alongside her husband, Jhonatan Lira Santos de Freitas. “It was surprising, very beautiful, and impressive. The theme of the birth of Jesus, who gave his life for us, is simply perfect. For me as an expectant mother, it touched our hearts deeply.”
Another couple, Fabiana Cristina und Marcelo Duarte Sintra, said similarily: “It was very emotional. It was quite an experience to participte in it. The sisters are very welcoming and the Schoenstatt Shrine has a unique attraction. It is a place of peace where people are united in prayer.”
During the performance, the audience had the opportunity to join in by lighting candles, ringing bells, and singing together. The director of the choir, Sister M. Sandra Regina Netto, put into words the feeling that touched hearts. “It is always a joy to bring this message to the people who walk with us. When we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we feel our hearts are united in a greater mission. Christmas this year is an invitation to light the light of hope and live it with a new meaning.”
The Christmas cantata is more than just an event. It is a real experience. For the participants, it is as if heaven comes down to earth for a moment and the spirit of Christmas illuminates not only the sanctuary, but every heart with the light of hope.