Marywood University Celebrating the Season by “Making Spirits Bright”

“Making Spirits Bright,” Marywood’s annual celebration of the Christmas season through festive programming, community service, spiritual opportunities, and student and alumni events, will begin in December continue through New Year’s Eve.

FESTIVE PROGRAMMING

The signature event of the Christmas season, Marywood’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, will take place in the Rotunda of the Liberal Arts Center on Wednesday, December 4, at 4 p.m. Festive music will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. The public also may view the Marywood Christmas tree during the normal operating hours of the Liberal Arts Center, Monday through Friday, from December 4 to December 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Additionally, Marywood’s campus will feature an outdoor Christmas display of the Nativity scene at the Memorial Arch on Adams Avenue, and the Motherhouse and Seminary Morgan Memorial Garden in front of the Learning Commons will be adorned with lights and seasonal decorations.

Sounds of the season will be broadcast by Marywood’s award-winning, student-run radio station, VMFM 91.7, which once again becomes Christmas 91.7 and continues its traditional community gift of broadcasting commercial-free Christmas music, 24/7. Christmas programming starts on Tuesday, December 3, and continues through New Year’s Eve. Those outside of the station’s local broadcast range can stream it for free online or through the Tune-in app. 

Salute to Service Basketball games for the men’s and women’s teams, in conjunction with the local National Guard, will be held on Saturday, December 7, at 1 p.m. (women’s) and 3 p.m. (men’s) at the Insalaco Arena, Center for Athletics and Wellness. Some military vehicles will be on display, the team will borrow military jerseys that they will wear, and there will be a tunnel for the team to run through onto the court. Military alumni, students, supporters, and families will be recognized at these games.

The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance is presenting several free seasonal concerts: 

• 12/5 Guitar Ensemble Concert, Marian Chapel, 5 p.m.
  The Marywood Guitar Ensemble presents its traditional Holiday Concert by performing a diverse repertoire, including songs, old carols, Viennese Waltzes, and contemporary music.            
• 12/5 Clarinet Choir Concert, Marian Chapel, 7 p.m.
• 12/12 String Project Concert, Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, 5 p.m.
  String students, ages 4-18, will be performing in small ensembles and string orchestras in this Holiday Gala performance. Admission is free and all are welcome to join this celebration of our young musicians.      

Additionally, there will be a Marywood Wind Symphony Holiday Concert at Marywood Heights, December 11, 7 p.m. The Band does this event each year to bring joy to the residents/staff of Marywood Heights. They will perform many traditional holiday favorites including sing-a-longs for the residents. Attendance at this event is limited to residents and staff of Marywood Heights.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

An on-campus Christmas Giving Tree service project will run from November 20 to December 6. Several Giving Trees on campus feature tags that can be selected to purchase a gift for a child in need in the local community. Gifts can be dropped off to the Office of Community Service and Social Justice in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life or the Student Engagement Office in Nazareth Student Center by Friday, December 6. Student volunteers will also collect gift donations at the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4. This year's Christmas Giving Tree is co-sponsored by the Office of Community Service and Social Justice, Marywood University Student Educators (MUSE), and Marywood Student Government Association. All gifts will be donated to the annual "Gifts for Kids" program, which is the collaborative effort of Catherine McAuley Center, Catholic Social Services, Friends of the Poor, and the Salvation Army. Contact communityservice@m.marywood.edu with any questions.

SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Marywood's annual Advent/Christmas Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, December 8, at 7:30 in the Marian Chapel. This will be a Candlelight Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent. This will be the last Sunday Mass of the semester.

Marywood will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, its patronal feast, on Monday, December 9, with Mass at Noon in the Marian Chapel. It is a tradition of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to renew their vows on this day. On the liturgical calendar this feast is celebrated on December 8, but because it falls on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, it has been moved to Monday, December 9. The Marywood community is invited and encouraged to join the IHM Sisters at this special Mass on Monday, December 9 at Noon in the Marian Chapel.

STUDENT AND ALUMNI EVENTS

The Student Government Association (SGA) will host the Annual Christmas Office Decorating Contest on campus. The SGA will announce winners at the tree lighting on December 4. The winning offices will have their monetary prizes awarded to the charity of choice in their honor, as follows: First Place - $250, Second Place - $150, and Third Place - $100.

The SGA also is sponsoring a “Letters from Santa” project for members of the Marywood community (including alumni) and their families, who request letters for the children in their lives. The deadline for requests is December 4. For more information, contact marywoodclubs@marywood.edu.

The traditional Breakfast with Santa event, hosted by the NEPA Marywood Alumni Chapter in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Engagement is set for Sunday, December 8, 10 a.m., in the Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center. Seating is limited, and preference is given to Marywood alumni. Advanced registration is required; once event capacity is reached, registration will be closed.

Alumni can join the Office of University Advancement for “Cookies and Cocoa” in Maria Hall after the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4, from 5-6:30 p.m.

Also, the Marywood Alumni Association is hosting several off-campus events, including:

• NYC Alumni Meet Up at the Met, Friday, December 6, at 6 p.m., and a NYC Happy Hour Alumni Meet Up on Friday, December 6, 8-9:30 p.m., at Five Mile Stone, 1640 2nd Ave, New York, NY.
• Hershey Hotel Alumni Meet Up, at the iconic Hershey Hotel, featuring an exciting wine and chocolate pairing session, is set for Wednesday, December 11, 6-9 p.m.
• Alumni Gathering at the Binghamton Club, Binghamton, NY, Thursday, December 12, 6-9 p.m.

Alumni can get more information and register for these events at marywood.edu/alumni/events.