For nearly a quarter of a century, the St. Joseph Catholic Church Aloha Choir has brought comfort and strength to grieving families through its ministry of consolation. The choir’s ministry extends God’s compassion and mercy to those in need.
For nearly a quarter of a century, the St. Joseph Catholic Church Aloha Choir has brought comfort and strength to grieving families through its ministry of consolation. The choir’s ministry extends God’s compassion and mercy to those in need.
The choir was founded in the late 1980s by parishioner Lorina Springer, who was bothered because “some funerals would have loads of people with hired musicians. Others were totally empty, nothing uplifting about it at all.”
With the pastor’s help, she recruited volunteers just for funerals. Today, after many changes in members and leadership, the Aloha Choir continues to carry on its legacy of serving families in bereavement through the gift of song. Current organist is Michael Springer, Lorina Springer’s son.
And the choir is on call.
Members are notified through a telephone tree of funeral Masses where the choir has been requested. The choir sings before Mass, during Mass and for the final commendation, using Hawaiian and traditional hymns. In closing, the choir usually leads the congregation in “Hawaii Aloha” and “Aloha ‘Oe.”
For more information about the Aloha Choir, call the church rectory at 935-1465.