When WEIU TV’s Heartland Highways visited Holy Cross Catholic Church in Wendelin, IL in December of 2007 to do a story about The Advent Evensong, they knew this was a special event. With that in mind, they decided to record the entire Evensong program and turn it into a holiday television special.
What started as a way for Father David Braun to get to know his parishioners has turned into an annual holiday service attended by many.
Shortly after arriving to Holy Cross in 1989, Father David realized the strong German heritage of his congregation. The origins of Holy Cross parish date back to the 1850’s with families who emigrated from Germany to the region of Richland, Clay and Jasper County Illinois. Being of German descent himself, Father David spent two years living in Austria. It was here that he learned about an advent tradition of music, which Father decided to bring the Evensong tradition to his new congregation. For a few years father and a group of singers went singing from house to house, but when all of the parish homes had been visited, Father wanted to keep the tradition alive. He came up with the idea to turn the door to door singing into a ceremony at the church, where more people could attend and take part.
Always held on the 2nd Sunday of December, the service begins with the Kloepfen choir who sing carols in German. The service is intermixed with scripture readings and more carols sung by the entire congregation. The entire ceremony is done by candlelight with Father David playing at an old pump organ. (This year it will again be held at the Catholic Church in Wendelin on Sunday, December 14 at 4:00pm for anyone who wishes to attend.)
The sights and sounds of the Evensong are a wonderful thing to experience and now this special event comes exclusively to WEIU TV this holiday season.
Air Dates - WEIU-TV: December 21, 9:00pm. Christmas Day, 11:00pm; and on Your 13: Christmas Eve, 8:00pm. Christmas Day, 1:00pm
For more information, contact Lori Casey (217) 581-8466
(Taken from WEIU TV’s Website www.WEIU.net)
