Sing joyous praise to the Lord!

Photos by Beth Donze | CLARION HERALD

On Aug. 26, members of St. Mary of the Angels’ “Angelic Voices” Gospel Choir presented their second annual concert to a packed congregation. Their rousing repertoire, directed by parish music minister Jeoffre Duplessis (pictured at right), included “We’ve Come to Have Church,” “I Won’t Go Back,” and “I Will Go in Jesus’ Name.” “I am pastor of one of the greatest parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans!” exclaimed Franciscan Father Dennis Bosse, pastor of St. Mary of the Angels, welcoming congregants to the concert inspired by Psalm 34:3 – “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

The concert also featured guest performances by St. Peter Claver Parish vocalist Veronica Downs-Dorsey, and her daughter, trumpeter Veronique Dorsey.

Right, Dorsey plays a haunting rendition of “Down by the Riverside.”

A Gospel music enthusiast at the St. Mary of the Angels concert dances in her pew, left.
Many at the concert said they were particularly happy to have a couple of hours of prayer and distraction as then Tropical Storm Isaac sat in the Gulf of Mexico.