New York’s Staten Island. The world knows them as the Daughters of St. Paul, media nuns who sing their way throughout the nation every year to share the Christmas message to thousands of people.
Their beautiful voices are able to calm your mind, comfort your soul, transport you back to a more innocent era, and let you connect with the true meaning of the holidays.
Additionally, hoteliers Richard Nicotra and Lois Nicotra decided to conduct their annual Christmas Benefit Concert because it’s the most delightful time of the year.
Richard and Lois Nicotra with Sister Nancy Usselmann. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
The Hilton Garden Inn’s Nicotra’s Ballroom hosted the gala production in previous years.
The stage at Lorenzo’s Bar & Cabaret, however, offered a close-up and intimate backdrop at the Bloomfield location this year as a change of pace.
At Lorenzo’s Bar & Cabaret at the Hilton Garden Inn, patrons take in the Daughters of St. Paul’s performance. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
“Hello everyone,” began Lois Nicotra, “at Lorenzo’s Bar & Cabaret.” When the nuns held their 25th Anniversary Concert in 2019, they returned after a five-year break. Then COVID struck. “Lois, we’re not getting any younger,” the sisters said. When my amazing husband suggested that we hold it in the cabaret, we were about to give up on the idea. Not everything has changed, but a lot has. To Richard and me, they are angels, and they are amazing.
Mother Lucinda Ferreri and herself.Joseph Ferreri (right) and Caroline Ferreri (front left) both become Sisters of St. John the Baptist. Sister Nancy of the Daughters of St. Paul appears at the right rear. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
The Nicotras still co-chair the holiday concert, and the honorary chair, Oscar-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri, was present at their 25th Silver Jubilee performance in 2019.
With lanterns as a symbol of hope, the Daughters of St. Paul sing about the Christmas season. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
WHY THE CONCERT HAPPENED
More than 30 years have passed since Lois and Richard Nicotra first saw the Daughters of St. Paul, who were selling religious items out of a kiosk at the Staten Island Mall.
The Hilton Garden Inn’s Lorenzo’s Bar & Cabaret was filled with the sweet sounds of the Daughters of St. Paul. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
They originally offered to stage a holiday concert for the sisters’ congregation in 1994, when they operated Everything Yogurt, after observing how hard they worked to exhibit their inspirational music in order to generate money to support their mission.
During their sold-out concert, the sisters gesture to the audience. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
Soon after, Nicotras revealed that Staten Island Mall administrators were attempting to increase the nuns’ rent.
Richard, the Mall’s merchant association president, believed he might assist postpone the hike. However, when it didn’t work out, he covered the rent and proposed that the sisters do a concert to collect money for the order.
The disco-style song “Rescue Me” is performed by the Daughters of St. Paul. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
The Daughters of St. Paul brought their Christmas show to Bloomfield in 2001 when the Nicotras opened the Hilton Garden Inn.
Over the past 20 years, the performance has grown into a Staten Island tradition and has raised over $2 million.
Richard continued, “I used to own a frozen yogurt business at the Staten Island Mall.” The nuns rented a booth at the time to sell medals and rosary beads. We came up with the concept of Christmas concerts when the nuns informed us that they planned to triple their rent.
Richard Nicotra, Lois Nicotra, and Nell Mormion. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
“I believe in the power of prayer, as do Richard and myself,” Lois added. The nuns will also offer up prayers for you.
Palminteri was able to incorporate the nuns’ performances of Schubert’s Ave Maria and The Little Drummer Boy into the movie A Bronx Tale’s music.
UNIQUE STANDOUTS
Popular oldies, Broadway show tunes, and a dance routine in which the nuns always wear glittering threads are all part of the vibrant repertory.
In order to participate, audience members wave lights around the space. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
Angels Among Us, the nuns’ signature song, was a particularly memorable performance. They greeted, thanked, and moseyed through the crowd, shaking hands with everyone.
THEIR HISTORY
The international Roman Catholic religious order known as the Daughters of St. Paul was established in Italy in 1915.
As they have said, Jesus offers us something to sing about, which is why they entertain audiences throughout the holidays.
For additional information about the Daughters of St. Paul, go to daughtersofstpaul.com.
Sisters Tracey and Fay, on the left, shook hands with the crowd while performing “Angels Among Us.” (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
Sister Tracey added that the program would involve singing and dancing, but that the nuns would also be praying for everyone in attendance that evening as she introduced the sisters to the audience and discussed their mission.
And Sister Fay saw that a relationship sustains and grows when God is at its center. She went on, “God brought us all back together.”
They said how grateful and delighted they were to be back at the Hilton. They remarked, “After all, Christmas isn’t Christmas if it’s not with all of you.”
Their musical presentation gained flair from a dash of Samoa. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
Sister Tracey and Sister Fay are on the left. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
The Daughters of St. Paul strut their thing during their encore performance in a manner reminiscent of the Rockettes. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
For their finale, the Sisters dress in sequin scarves and glittering top hats. (Carol Ann Benanti/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island
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