On Wednesday, October 1, students from the PreK 3-year-old program through Grade 8 at Saint Joseph School were treated to a truly inspiring musical presentation titled "The Memory and Glory of God in Nature." The program was performed by Fr. Prof. Zbigniew Stępniak, Ph.D. Hab. and Maria Helena Czarnecka-Cieślak, M.A., two exceptionally talented musicians whose artistry brought together faith, music, and language in a way that captivated every listener.
Ms. Czarnecka-Cieślak, a musicologist, organist, and conductor, is a graduate of the Institute of Church Musicology at the Catholic University of Lublin and currently serves as organist at Saint Joseph Basilica in Webster. Fr. Stępniak, a professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury, is a classically trained bass and musicologist who has performed in numerous countries and in over a dozen languages. Together, they offered a program that celebrated both the universality of music and the glory of God reflected through His creation.
The concert opened with the Gregorian hymn "Ave Maria", performed in Latin—a gentle and prayerful beginning that invited students to listen closely and reflect. As the program continued, students were encouraged to guess the language in which each piece was sung. This interactive format delighted the children, who eagerly raised their hands to identify languages such as German, French, Polish, Russian, and English.
Among the featured works were Beethoven's "Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur" (The Glory of God in Nature), which set the tone for the concert's spiritual theme, and Franz Schubert's "Ständchen" (Serenade), a romantic German art song that filled the room with warmth and lyric beauty. Fr. Stępniak also performed Riccardo Cocciante's "Ave Maria Païen" from Notre Dame de Paris, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Memory" from Cats, and Jerry Bock's "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof—demonstrating an impressive vocal range and expressive depth.
The concert concluded with a moving encore of Schubert's "Ave Maria," again sung in Latin, leaving students and staff alike in quiet awe.
Beyond its artistic merit, the presentation served as a valuable learning experience. Exposure to various languages through song helps children develop cultural awareness, listening skills, and an appreciation for the diversity of human expression. It also reinforces the school's commitment to nurturing the whole child—mind, heart, and spirit—through experiences that connect faith and the arts.
As one teacher noted afterward, the students' enthusiasm was contagious: "They were so excited every time they guessed the language correctly—it was like watching them unlock a new world."
Through the gift of music, Fr. Stępniak and Ms. Czarnecka-Cieślak reminded everyone that the language of beauty and praise is truly universal—a reflection of God's presence in every culture and every heart.
