Credit Joy Yagid
Seton Hall University is inviting the greater South Orange and Maplewood community to its Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on Tuesday, December 2.
The event will feature Christmas carols, pictures with the Seton Hall Pirate, complimentary hot cocoa and treats, the tree lighting, a pledge for “12 Acts of Christmas Kindness,” and a giveaway of free Seton Hall Pirates Basketball tickets for the Prudential Center that night — while supplies last.
A Christmas Concert at SOPAC will follow later in the evening.
There schedule is:
- 5:00 p.m. Mass at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception,
- 5:30 p.m. Blessing of the Crèche, and
- 5:45 p.m., the Fifth Annual Christmas Tree Blessing and Lighting Ceremony on the University Green.
Seton Hall President Gabriel Esteban will light a 60-foot Norway spruce that will feature 43,000 lights.
Complimentary men’s basketball tickets and Christmas sweater t-shirt vouchers will be available at the tree lighting ceremony for all in attendance while supplies last. The tickets can be used immediately following the ceremony to attend the 7 p.m. Seton Hall vs. Mount St. Mary’s game at the Prudential Center.
President Esteban will also invite attendees to make a pledge to be kind to others this holiday season by performing “12 Acts of Christmas Kindness” — an initiative inspired by SHU student Hillary Sadlon, who celebrated her 22nd birthday by performing 22 random acts of kindness and inspired a University-wide movement of “12 Acts of Christmas Kindness” last year.
Attendees also can participate in a food drive that evening by donating non-perishable items for St. John’s Soup Kitchen and Our Lady of Sorrows food pantry. Each person who brings two of the following items will receive a special gift from Seton Hall: canned vegetables; instant mashed potatoes; stuffing; canned soup; pasta sauce; sugar; salt; pasta; peanut butter or other non-perishable item.
In addition, everyone who brings an unwrapped toy for the Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE) Toy Drive will receive a blue Santa hat. Those who are unable to attend on December 2 can drop off toys and non-perishable items until December 17 in the DOVE Office on campus.
At 7:30 p.m. the Seton Hall University Winter Concert also will be held at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). This concert will feature the University Choir, Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra and premiere the new Concert Band. Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities Jason Tramm will be conducting the orchestra and choirs. Newly Appointed
Director of Concert Band Charles Yassky will be conducting the band. The concert is free to the public, but it is greatly recommended that people reserve their tickets in advance since the concert has been filled to capacity in previous years. Seats can be reserved by calling the SOPAC box office at (973) 313-2787 or visiting www.sopacnow.org/544/SHU.
