Ushering in Advent with Scripture, song

By Rob Herbst
The Catholic Week
The Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception will embrace an Advent and Christmas tradition that dates to the 19th century.
Members of the Cathedral’s choir, joined by choir members from other local churches will host the “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 — the First Sunday of Advent. The public is encouraged to attend and there is no admission. It is expected to last about an hour.
The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song. Those in attendance “listen to nine Scripture lessons that recount the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission to preach the Good News. Each lesson is followed by a carol or other song that reflects on the lesson’s message, along with a brief prayer," according to the USCCB.
Joseph O’Shea encountered the Festival of Lessons and Carols when singing with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The Cathedral choir member is now in residence with the Pensacola Opera and spearheaded the effort to have the Festival of Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral.
“Doing things like this can elevate and diversify the Catholic experience in our community and can bring more liveliness to our faith in the community, doing something a little bit different,” O’Shea said. “I think I just I thought it would be really nice for the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Mobile to take leadership on introducing that liturgy.” 
The Festival of Lessons and Carols has an Anglican origin. Archbishop Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, began the first Festival of Lessons and Carols at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, England, as a step to keep people in churches on Christmas Eve in 1880. 
According to O’Shea, the service is similar to a Vespers liturgy and includes the Liturgy of the Hours when done in the Roman Catholic tradition.
“It's obviously still very Anglican, but we will try to incorporate some more Catholic elements into it,” he said, “and show off the Catholic Church to the community.” 
He added: “We have a beautiful church and we have a beautiful faith and we need to show it off. Music is one way that this is done.”