May 14, 2025 By Keith Benman The Diocese of Ogdensburg is puttingout a call to artists and musical performers for a Jubilee-year festival to be held in August. “The Look, Feel, & Sound of Hope” music and arts festival will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 24 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Saranac Lake. It will feature music and art illustrating the jubilee-year theme of hope as proclaimed by the late Pope Francis. “This is an opportunity for us to come together, to take all this talent, which is spread across the diocese, and have the opportunity to see this talent come to fruition,” said Father Lukas Gruber, one of the coordinators of the festival’s music portion. The festival is following the exhortation of the late Pope Francis to “fan the flame of hope” in the Jubilee year. The pope initiated the Jubilee year, with its motto “Pilgrims of Hope,” by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve at the end of 2024. Organizers of “The Look, Feel, and Sound of Hope” to take place at St. Bernard’s say the Jubilee year has been made even more significant for them with the pope’s passing. “(Pope) Francis would want us to remember his message long after him,” said Christine Bookman, St. Mary’s Cathedral music director and another of the festival’s music coordinators. “We don’t lose any amount of hope just because he’s not with us anymore. He’s watching over us.” Art works will be displayed in St. Bernard’s among the pews and other areas. It is not a juried art show; all works entered will be displayed, excepting in the case of something found not appropriate. Organizers are also encouraging all art mediums, including sewing, crocheting, painting, sculpture, jewelry, digital art – you name it. The art works portion is open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, as well as artists residing outside the diocese. Entry forms ask for information on the artist and for up to three works to be submitted. Those forms are due May 30. A photograph of the work or works is due June 30. Teens and children can also enter, but parents will need to fill out the festival “minor release” at the festival website. “Our biggest thing is we want people to express themselves,” said Carol Gonthier, one of the art coordinators for the festival. “And there’s no one way of expressing yourself.” If entrants still have questions on the art portion of the event after going to the festival website, those can be emailed to Carol Gonthier at cgonthier@twcny.rr.com or Christy Clark Collins at christyclarkcollins@gmail.com The music portion of the festival will consist of a performance by a Diocesan Choir open to all singers, an invite-only Diocesan Schola choir, and chamber music which may include soloists. “This is really an opportunity for us to come together and experience music making on a large scale and one that is Christ-centered,” Father Gruber said. The Diocesan Choir will sing three hymns and festival attendees will be invited to join in. Entry forms for the Diocesan Choir and the chamber music portions of the festival are available at the festival website and should be submitted as soon as possible. The chamber music can be performed by groups of instrumentalists, vocalists or any mix thereof, including soloists. There are seven slots for chamber music, which requires a recording of the group or soloist performing their piece to be submitted by July 11. Examples of works that might be suitable are included at the festival website. If entrants still have questions after going to the festival website, those can be emailed to Father Lukas Gruber at lgruber@rcdony.org or Christine Bookman at ogdensburgmusic@rcdony.org. The festival website is https://www.rcdony.org/artmusic |
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