Seniors Nicholas Foster and Max Samarin officiate the Nativity Blessing and Christmas tree lighting at Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, New York. They oversaw live student performances and a large Christmas village featuring food booths, a skating rink, a life-size snow globe, and a petting zoo from their position on a professional concert stage.
On the main stage, students from St. Joseph Hill and Farrell provided entertainment. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
Tuesday’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing, which featured the amazing performance of our Faithful Men and the amazing young women who joined them on stage, was a thrilling and unforgettable event that perfectly captured the essence of the Farrell Family, according to the school president and alumnus.
Santa was escorted by the FDNY and carried on a ladder to the Oakwood campus. (Pamela Silvestri/Staten Island Advance) Silvestri
According to him, parents, coaches, instructors, staff, alumni, and students gathered to enjoy the holiday season and keep Christ at the center of Christmas.
Tom Barlotta, Dawn Guerrero, a teacher, and Lou Tobacco, a former student and president of Farrell, are pictured from left to right. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
Dominick the Donkey
As real-deal reindeer broke for meal, Santa himself took center stage, joined by FDNY’s Ladder 85. Tobacco thanked the NYPD for keeping us all safe and the FDNY for providing Santa with a lift. Dominick the Donkey, a placid donkey grazing hay close to the Nativity on exhibit, also received a stern thank-you from the school president.
Employees decorated trees with lights and set up a life-size igloo for everyone to enjoy. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
According to teacher Dawn Guerriero, “My Speech and Communications class was thrilled to add to the glitz of Farrell’s special tree lighting event and the magic of the Christmas season by performing a lively dance number to Mariah Carey’s classic, All I Want for Christmas Is You, and a spirited reading of Twas the Week before Christmas: Farrell Style.”
At the Christmas presentation, speakers included students, alumni, school administrators, and Borough President Vito Fossella, who is also a graduate of Farrell. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
Several hundred revelers gathered around the stage, and Borough President Vito Fossella addressed them. He gave sincere remarks about the Christmas spirit and applauded the large-scale production. As part of the recent mystery drone sightings, which he and other alumni have been vocal about, the Farrell alumnus snarked about the school’s drone flying overhead.
(Courtesy of Owen Reiter) Silvestri’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell H.S.
Jennifer Briscoe, a staff member and event planner, usually starts organizing the school’s spectacular in January. As is customary, the school’s theatrical society, the Monsignor Farrell Players, which are led by Melissa Tierney, who also plans the show’s schedule, perform a number of numbers.
(Courtesy of Owen Reiter) Silvestri’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell H.S.
An army of volunteers, sometimes known as “elves” in green shirts, were present in the all-hands-on decorated halls. A small ice skating rink was under the supervision of the Farrell hockey team. The Italian department’s Mr. DiPietro and Mr. Bilotti distributed freshly piped cannoli and baked rainbow cookies. Ms. Farley, a fellow educator, poured hot chocolate.
Patrizia’s Italian food, Ho’Brah drinks, and Montalbano’s sausage and peppers were among the food booths.(Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
Friends of Staten Island (FOSI), a student organization led by Monsignor Farrell and composed of St. Joseph Hill Academy students, was one of the performers.
This year, Ho Brah from West Brighton, Patrizia from Eltingville, and Montalbano from Woodrow were in charge of the food and drink stations.
Farrell decorates the hallways in the spirit of Christmas. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
The occasion also served as a fundraiser for Northwell Health, a hospital affiliated with Staten Island University.
(Courtesy of Owen Reiter) Silvestri’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell H.S.
“This beloved tradition reflects our mission to form men of faith, aware of their God-given talents and confident in their abilities, while sharing the light and hope of Christ with our community,” Tobacco said.
(Courtesy of Owen Reiter) Silvestri’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell H.S.
(Courtesy of Owen Reiter) Silvestri’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell H.S.
The Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell High School are emceed by seniors Nicholas Foster and Max Samarin. Owen Reiter provided the image.Silvestri
Before taking the stage, senior class assistants and performers participated in the Christmas festivities. (Monsignor Farrell’s permission)Silvestri
(Courtesy of Owen Reiter) Silvestri’s Christmas tree lighting and nativity blessing at Monsignor Farrell H.S.
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