St. Thomas' Liturgical Choir spread its goodwill and honored two of its own at its annual spring benefit concert Sunday, April 25 in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The choir raised $1,400 at this year's concert to support Hope Medical Clinics, community-based clinics working with the Catholic Church in Kasubi and Ndejje, Uganda. The funds support the clinics' health-care initiatives that include testing and treatment for HIV and malaria, prenatal care and affordable medical care for people who otherwise might not have access to it.
The Liturgical Choir’s annual benefit concerts – given since 2005 – now have raised more than $11,400 for a variety of educational programs and human services organizations throughout the world. Last year the concert benefited the music school at Jesuscristo Resucitado (Risen Christ), a parish in San Felix, Venezuela, supported as a mission of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Other beneficiaries over the years have included the Music Department of Xavier University in New Orleans, which suffered major damage from Hurricane Katrina; the Genocide Intervention Network for its Darfur relief program; and Open Arms of Minnesota, an organization that prepares and delivers free meals to people living with serious and life-threatening diseases such as HIV/AIDS, ALS and breast cancer.
Also at the concert, Carrie Larson Memorial Scholarships were presented to two choir members, juniors Corey Dahl and Mark Thomas.
The $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually by Edina residents Marilyn and John Larson in memory of their daughter, Carrie ’89, who was a communications major and involved with the Liturgical Choir during her four years at St. Thomas. The scholarships are awarded to current Liturgical Choir students who embody the spirit of music ministry, choral excellence, leadership and who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need.
This year Carrie's niece, St. Thomas senior Jessica Larson, presented the scholarships on behalf of her grandparents.
