With 'Holy Night', Don Orione continues a tradition!

"Behold a virgin shall be with child and bring forth a son," wrote St. Matthew in his gospel. And so the stage was set for Don Orione’s Nativity Pageant. Before a sizeable audience in the nursing home’s main church at the Madonna Queen Shrine last week, a large ensemble of actors and musicians performed a majestic tribute to the Christ child. "Holy Night" is becoming something of a necessity during the Christmas season. It is not hard to see why. Led by Fr. Lawrence Tosatto, the Don Orione orchestra and choir delivered a wonderfully choreographed six-part pageant -- from the prophecy of Isaiah to the visitation of the three kings. There is something to be said for such an effort given that organizing music and volunteer actors for a large scale project is difficult these days. But Fr. Tossatto is an accomplished conductor and the air of music his orchestra delivered was both crisp and reverent to the occasion. Where the angels guided the shepherds, the orchestra followed with solemnity. Fr.Tosatto also performed tenderly on flute after the scene of the nativity. But this was more than a one-person effort. The choir sang beautifully and it is a shame we do not hear more of this classical style more often in East Boston. The nativity was also pleasing to the eye. The adoring flock of followers signifying through song a community in Christ- visually completed the Nativity scene. The ensemble closed with final hymn of the complete "Adeste Fideles." For years, the Madonna Queen Shrine and itsmagnificent statue have been a landmark and a symbol of the immensely important work contributed by the Don Orione community to the elderly anddisabled. As an institution, the nursing home has broad support reaching beyond its predominately Italian roots to include a multicultural workforce. Moreover, as an institution, Don Orione is adding to East Boston’s cultural landscape. This is not to be overlooked.

revision posted on 12/21/99

-- photographs by Frank Conte