Sayreville parish concert raises funds, collects donations for local moms

A Sayreville parish youth choir recently joined voices to support a local cause.

The youth choir at Our Lady of Victories Parish, Sayreville, held a Winter Concert for a Cause on March 1. Together with members of the youth ministry, the choir raised $545 in funds and many donated items like diapers and baby wipes to support local mothers through the Inspire Family Life Center, Warren.

“The older choir members helped to choose the songs and were not only the singers, but the instrumentalists as well,” said youth choir director Melissa Murano. “We have many very talented teens and children. We had three piano players, three guitarists, one flute, one saxophone, one French horn, one violin, a drummer, bongo player and two ukulele players.”

It was the first time the choir had put together a benefit concert, Murano said, and the success of this inaugural event has encouraged them to consider making it an annual occasion.

In addition to leading the youth choir at her parish, Murano is an 8th grade faith formation catechist, one of the leaders of the youth ministry, and director of the parish’s Living Stations and Christmas Pageant.

“Our hope behind this event was to raise money and donations for the family center along with showcasing the talented teens and children in the choir at our parish,” she said.

Murano noted that the idea of benefitting the Inspire Family Life Center came from some of the teenage choir and youth ministry members. According to the Center, it works to support mothers and families “by providing them with medical services, guidance, educational programs and resources that will enable them to build a strong foundation upon which they can flourish, caring for their children, both born and unborn.”

“I knew about the Inspire Family Center because one of its founding members is a parishioner and has been working with these mothers and families for years and has done some amazing work,” said Murano. “We were happy to help such a worthy cause.”

She also shared that the parish’s youth choir has a wide range of ages represented – ranging from children as young as four years old, to young adults attending college.

“These teens and children keep coming back year after year, even with very busy schedules, because they enjoy playing and singing together and that is hard to find these days,” she said. “They enjoy using their talents to inspire others and they continue to surprise me.”