It was indeed a “Family Togetherness”!  On Friday, July 21, the St Theresa’s parishioners got together at the Fatima College Hall for an afternoon of togetherness. 

The evening was appropriately called “Flowers of St Theresa’s”, and began promptly at 6.00 p.m., Parishioners all decked in their fanciest, came into Fatima College yard and were greeted by the members of the Concert Committee.

They were then escorted to the “Drinks Bar”, then on to the “Eats Bar”.

There was more than enough for everyone. Between 6.00. and 7.00 p.m. everyone mingled, ate, drank and chatted, waiting for that which they never expected.

The idea was born of Fr Gervais Girod, our beloved parish priest, who insists that family values are more important that anything. To inculcate this, he believes the family must keep together and do things together, including the occasional relaxation on a Friday afternoon and finding enjoyment in music.

What better way than to attend a concert together, with the performers being your own family?!

Fr Girod planted the seed and nominated Jessica Chin to be the chairperson of the Concert Committee. Taking up the challenge in the middle of World Cup Fever, Jessica incorporated the able assistance of Ian Amoroso, Marlene Nunes and David Huggins.

What a team! Jessica’s forte is organising and arranging performances, since her children are always on stage. Ian’s forte is arranging a variety of music for choirs and for different events. He also manages the St Theresa’s Choir.

Marlene’s forte is maintaining order in the midst of madness (and boy, was she in the midst of madness!), she is also very meticulous in having things done the proper way, and she possesses great organisational ability. David’s forte is performing (and he loves to perform!) and producing shows, both video and audio.

Johann Chuckaree on pan and his sister Johanna on keyboard

A student of St Theresa's Girls' performs

The first meeting took place on May 13, and the Committee met every single week thereafter, even changing their meeting days from Saturday afternoons to Wednesday evenings, since it was a great sacrifice for all four of the members to come together on any particular day.

Every meeting was minuted, and each member had a particular job function to perform. They worked closely together, sometimes getting on each other’s nerves, but the aim was to bring the St Theresa’s family together, and that was indeed achieved!

The National Anthem was sung promptly at 7.00 p.m. When all were seated the magic unfolded. A video clip of the life and times of Fr Peter Nicholson, was shown, and this was followed by Wendell Constantine singing two songs dedicated to Fr Nick.

Following Wendell was Tahira Osborne, a Holy Name Convent/Music Festival winner. Video clips of the life and times of Barbara Barsotti, Jessie Brash, Sr Glenda Rodriguez, Stephen Hackshaw, Cyril Dookie, Anthony Gabriel and Anne Marie Sabga -- all “Flowers” of the beautiful St Theresa’s “Family Garden”, were shown.

Information and photographs for these clips were sourced by the Committee and provided by the parishioners themselves. All the clips were produced by David Huggins, who did a really fantastic job. The video clips evoked good memories and in some instances, tears of joy.

Entertainment included our family harmonica player, John Hamel Smith, who dedicated his performance to Barbara Barsotti. Dedications to Jessie Brash were performed by her niece, Wendy Sheppard, and Jessica Chin’s adopted son, Juan Pablo Alba Dennis, who gave Fred Astaire some competition with his tap dancing.

Our family primary school, St Theresa’s Girls’ produced excellent performances in the persons of Nicoda Francis, one of the bravest, most outgoing little calypsonians Trinidad has ever seen, and Sunshine De Silva, an outstanding monologuist, who brought tears to the audience’s eyes.

Nicholas Chin then advised the audience in song that Sr Glenda Rodriguez was Unforgettable, and again thanked them for supporting his musical career by rendering You Raise Me Up.

The mood of the evening changed when Stanley Ruiz and his group “tay lay layed” with instrumentals, and Michael Germaine and his group “jazzed up the evening”.

Our family continued entertaining each other in the persons of Johann Chuckaree on pan, his sister Johanna on the organ and Odelia Garcia on trap set.

This was truly music to soothe any savage beast, were there one! Miguel Browne provided another swing to the evening by his compositions on the “langue” of Trinidad and Tobago, while Debbie Nahous serenaded all with her melodious voice.

David Huggins then dedicated his performance to the memory of Anne Marie Sabga, and the joint choirs of the parish closed the evening by exposing their talents in the classical, folk and calypso arenas. In the calypso arena, Fr Peter Nicholson’s favourite number Walk A Mile And A Half, was rendered with the entire the Concert Committee, Marlene, Jessica, David and Ian, leading the audience to “tay lay lay”.

This Committee did a truly fantastic job, but not without the able assistance of members of the Parish Council. People like Ann Khal and Stanley John were called upon day and night in Fr Girod’s absence, to assist, which they selflessly did.

The family spirit was truly re-kindled, memories shared, love and happiness were profoundly present.

Thanks to Fr Gervais Girod, for continuing to encourage the family spirit, and may the fire continue to warm our hearts.