Saint Joseph School celebrated its annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 14, with more than 550 parents, grandparents, and guests filling the Daniel & Catherine Ivascyn Performing Arts Center. The program opened with a Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring Student Council President Mychael Jones, who recited Sue Pagnanella’s poem “Christmas,” followed by the Blessing of the Trees by Rev. Richard Polek, Pastor and Headmaster. This reflective opening set the tone for an afternoon filled with music, drama, and community spirit.
The school’s Drama Club brought the stage to life with a vibrant production of In A Galilee Far, Far Away, directed by Brighid Campbell with assistance from Susan Gallivan. This interstellar Christmas musical from Little Big Stuff Music took the audience on an imaginative journey across the universe to witness the glory of God, ultimately guiding them back to Bethlehem and the Savior’s birth. Leading the cast were Kalleia Agosto as Captain Magellan, Amadeusz Gacek as Polo, Alexis Archambault as Otto, Amelia Potem as the Robot, Evelyn Macko as Info, Mia Reed as Sparky, and Bella Kicilinski as Zip. They were joined by Samuel Brunnett as Kenny, Sophia Bengtson as Betty, Julia Biela as Sandy, and Mathieu Prunier, who portrayed Abraham Lincoln. The roles of Shepherds were performed by Johnny Marcuccio, Stella Andreotta, and James Miranda, while Michael Kamangu handled the character of Damage Control.
The production was further elevated by an ensemble featuring all students in Grades 5 through 8, whose participation added vocal strength and dynamic stage presence to several musical numbers. Their work, combined with energetic choreography and memorable songs—including “Away We Go,” “Home for Christmas,” “In a Galilee Far, Far Away,” “All in The Book,” “Our Savior Is Born Tonight,” “The Star Will Shine,” and “Seek Him”—brought the story’s cosmic theme to life. The visual impact of the musical was made possible thanks to parent volunteer Antonio Marcuccio and a dedicated team of student set and prop designers.
Following intermission, the pageant transitioned into a showcase of musical performances by students in Pre-K through Grade 8. The second act opened with the middle school’s “A Merry Christmas Dribble – 2025,” a basketball skills exhibition uniquely choreographed to selections from The Nutcracker Suite. This creative fusion of athletics and classical music delighted the audience and demonstrated exceptional coordination and teamwork.
A series of musical selections followed, with each grade presenting a traditional or contemporary Christmas piece. Grade 8 performed “The Christmas Song,” followed by: Grade 7’s rendition of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” Grade 6’s “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and Grade 5’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” These selections were followed by: Grade 4 singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Grade 3 performing “Jingle Bells” on recorders, Grade 2’s joyful “Children Run Joyfully,” Grade 1’s lively “I’m the Happiest Christmas Tree,” Kindergarten’s spirited “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” Pre-K 4’s “Oh, What a Wonderful Day,” and Pre-K 3’s sweet performance of “Baby Jesus (Are You Sleeping, Brother John).” Students in Grades 5 through 8 also added a multicultural element through their performance of “Campana Sobre Campana” as part of the school’s Spanish program.
A particularly notable moment of the afternoon was the debut of the new Saint Joseph School Show Choir under the direction of Ms. Connie Galli. She was joined by Shepherd Hill Regional High School students Tommy Dolan and Zoraiya Burgos, whose mentorship and musical support helped guide the ensemble in a stunning first performance of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Following this debut, the Saint Joseph Church Choir delivered powerful, profoundly moving performances of “What Child Is This” and “Child of the Poor,” harmonizing the refrains and bringing the audience into a reverent, reflective close to the pageant.
Behind the scenes, the production was supported by the musical direction of Mrs. Brenda Lau Anderson and accompaniment by Maria Helena Czarnecka-Cieslak. Physical Education instructor Ms. Lisa Szpila coordinated the basketball exhibition, while Mr. Joey Boudreau and Mr. Mariusz Macko expertly managed sound and lighting.
The annual Christmas Pageant remains one of Saint Joseph School’s most cherished traditions, uniting families, students, and parishioners in a joyful celebration of faith and community. Through drama, music, and prayer, the event reflected the school’s mission of “Religion, Respect, and Responsibility” and invited all present to share in the joyful anticipation of Christmas.
