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Article_St. Theresa choir sings national anthem at Marlins game

School News | Tuesday, August 30, 2016

St. Theresa choir sings national anthem at Marlins game

Members of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir wave after singing the national anthem Aug. 26 at Marlins Park, before a game between the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres.

Photographer: COURTESY | Aileen Vidal

Members of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir wave after singing the national anthem Aug. 26 at Marlins Park, before a game between the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres.

Little Flower's pastor, Father Michael Davis, poses with Billy the Marlin after the children's choir from his parish and school performed the national anthem.

Photographer: COURTESY | Aileen Vidal

Little Flower's pastor, Father Michael Davis, poses with Billy the Marlin after the children's choir from his parish and school performed the national anthem.

MIAMI | What started off as a family outing to Marlins Park turned into an experience of a lifetime for the 20 students of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir: They got to sing the national anthem at the start of a game against the San Diego Padres.

Several times throughout the year, Jorge Santibáñez, Little Flower's director of religious education, organizes parish outings to local sporting events.

Previous trips have been to Marlins baseball games, Heat basketball games and the Orange Bowl Football Classic. These outings serve as fun community-building opportunities and as modest fundraisers to support the parish youth ministry.

As planning began for this latest outing, the Marlins representative pitched the idea of having the children's choir sing the anthem.

"It was a no-brainer," said Santibáñez. "I accepted the invitation before even checking the calendars for dates because I know what an experience like that would mean for the kids and families. That's exactly what these outings are all about — bringing the people of our parish together for fun, memorable experiences."

With 150 parishioners in attendance for the Aug. 26 game, including Little Flower’s pastor, Father Michael Davis, and priest-in-residence, Father Thomas Honold, the St. Theresa choir took the field. They sang the national anthem under the direction of choir director Roger Mason, and accompanied by Sophia Molina on the violin.

Afterward, Billy the Marlin came by to visit the group, and the Marlins went on to win the game in dramatic fashion.

Santibáñez, a lifelong Marlins fan, wasted no time looking ahead. "A Marlins win means we'll have to do it again soon!"

To watch a video of the performance, click here.

Members of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir pose outside Marlins Park with Jorge Santibañez, right rear, parish director of religious education, and Roger Mason, left rear, choir director.

Photographer: COURTESY | Aileen Vidal

Members of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir pose outside Marlins Park with Jorge Santibañez, right rear, parish director of religious education, and Roger Mason, left rear, choir director.


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