Free Gospel Music Fest, September 19

In the minds of many, gospel music is thought to be the dominion of Black Southern Baptists.  Here in New Orleans, with its rich ethnic and religious heritages, gospel music belongs to Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, and other faiths.  If I recall correctly, I once heard of a gospel Jewish service that took place Uptown.  How's that for diversity?

Last year, for the first time, I attended the Gospel Fest sponsored by the Archdiocese of New Orleans' Office of Black Catholic Ministries.  I joined my friends from church (St. Augustine) to hear our choir sing.  I knew that our choir would be stellar; each Sunday the choir members transport me with their soulful, honest, and praiseworthy performances.  What I didn't know, but quickly learned, is that there are many electrifying Catholic gospel choirs in the greater New Orleans region.

As I sat under the white tent listening to each choir try to out do the last, I was filled with the Holy Spirit in a very visceral way.  The clapping, the singing, the dancing--all of it made me want to stand up and shout "Hallelujah!  Amen!  Praise the Lord."  And I did.  All around me, men, women, and children of all races congregated and let the sweet sound of song embolden our spirits and our hearts with love.

Does this sound corny?  A little too "kumbya" to be real?  Well, it's not.  The Gospel Fest is as real as it gets.  It is the kind of cultural experience that leaves you knowing exactly why you travel.  It transports you to a different realm and transforms you too.  It is pure joy personified.

On Sunday, September 19, the Gospel Fest will once again take stage.  The music starts at 3:00 p. m. and goes 'til 6:30 p. m.  Last year the festival was on the grounds of historic Congo Square.  This year, it will take place at Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse at 6901 Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East.*  In addition to all of the good music, there will be vendors selling food.  Soul food and soul music all in one spot--you can't beat that.  Best of all, admission to the fest is free!  Praise the Lord!

About the Sisters of the Holy Family 

The Sisters of the Holy Family, an African-American congregation of pontifical status, was founded by a free woman of African descent, Henriette Delille, in New Orleans, Louisiana some twenty years before the Emancipation Proclamation.  Henriette Delille and her friend, Juliette Gaudin, born in Cuba of Haitian parents, dedicated their lives to God and began their work of educating the children of slaves, caring for the sick, the poor, and the elderly.  Because of social customs and legislation regarding persons of African descent, the Sisters of the Holy Family were not officially recognized until 1842.  Josephine Charles, also a free woman of color, joined them the following year.

Sr. Henriete Delille

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family has maintained their original ministries of educating youth and caring for the aged, the poor, and the most abject of society.  The sisters own and operate the oldest continuous Catholic home for the aged in the United States and operate two independent facilities for low-income senior citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The sisters are administrators and educators of two pre-school child development centers, one primary free school for the poor, two high schools, and seventeen elementary schools in the United States.  They also have an on-going involvement in the Diocese of Benin City, Nigeria West Africa and founded the first vocational school in Belize, Central America for those students who are unable to attend regular high school classes.

[Text excerpted from the Sisters of the Holy Family website.]

*It is best drive or take a cab to this event.