With Christmas quickly approaching, the Loyola community is getting into the holiday spirit by ordering their favorite seasonal Starbucks drinks and gearing up for finals. Many Loyola students celebrate Christmas by attending Lessons and Carols, one of the school’s most beloved traditions.
Lessons and Carols has been a tradition on campus for now 37 years, where students, families, and staff gather in the Alumni Memorial Chapel to listen to Christmas carols like ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ performed by Loyola’s Chapel Choir, and nine readings leading up to the birth of Jesus. It is a candle-lit service, and the chapel is decorated with poinsettias, an advent wreath, and a Christmas tree in the front.
The event is organized by Campus Ministry in partnership with the Center for Community Service and Justice (CCSJ) to donate money and gifts to those in need in Baltimore. The Associate Director for Liturgy and Music, Laura McCormack, has directed Lessons and Carols for four years and even participated in it when she was a student.
“For me, Lessons and Carols is a beautiful celebration of the mission of Loyola… at the heart of it, it’s about following Jesus and being people for and with others,” McCormack said.
Before McCormack became the associate director for liturgy and music and the coordinator for Lessons and Carols, George Miller, the former associate director of Campus Ministry, had coordinated Lessons and Carols since its inception. When she first stepped into the role, her goal was simply to keep Lessons and Carols running smoothly. Now that it is her fourth year directing, McCormack’s goal is to make Lessons and Carols reflect the student population and the world we inhabit.
“This year, I feel more confident to try new things like doing songs in different languages to represent the student body and make sure that everyone feels included. I want to make sure that it’s not just about the choir, but it’s about all of us there together,” McCormack said.
While audiences only see the beauty and peace of the final performance, the weeks leading up to Lessons and Carols are filled with rehearsals, preparation, and teamwork behind the scenes.
Chapel Choir meets every Thursday night and has been practicing the carols since September. The preparation even starts before that in July, when McCormack starts recruiting musicians.
“There’s a lot of spreadsheets. It’s much more technical than people think. We script the rehearsal plans to the minute to keep us on track,” McCormack said.
Rehearsals last for two hours, where the choir learns and practices each song, some more in depth than others because five of the carols are sung each year. As the service gets closer, the instrumentalists join the choir for one rehearsal to practice the whole program.
Milo Gloria ‘29, is eager to participate in their first Lessons and Carols and hear the songs like ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ with the accompaniment.
“I’m excited! The songs are so beautiful, I love music, and I love the Christmas season, so it’s a perfect mix,” Gloria said.
Lessons and Carols gathers the Loyola community in the Chapel to celebrate Christmas, yet the bonds formed within Chapel Choir are even stronger.
“I feel like Chapel Choir is a lot closer than other groups I’ve been in. Laura is always making us learn each other’s names, talk to our neighbor, and tell each other we’re doing a good job. We’re all connected,” Gloria said.
Each year, Lessons and Carols continues to bring the Loyola community together in celebration and service. Whether you’re a singer, a reader, a volunteer, or simply an attendee, the evening embodies what it means to be ‘people for and with others.’ It’s a moment of reflection and joy before finals – and one that reminds every Greyhound of the light they share with each other.
Lessons and Carols is free for everyone and will be held in the Alumni Memorial Chapel on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m., welcoming all who wish to celebrate the season through song, prayer, and community.
