The Christmas season is one of giving, and in order to spread some holiday cheer, members of the Padua Franciscan High School choral ensembles combined their talents to brighten the day of those in need of their spirits being lifted.
Padua’s choir students performed a medley of Christmas songs at the United Airlines’ Fantasy Flight at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The students’ voices helped welcome deserving families to the Cleveland airport as they prepared to fly to the North Pole.
“I’m thrilled that my students enjoy doing those things, and I think being out in the public and bringing joy and the spirit of Christmas is a beautiful thing,” said Tammy Plasterer, Padua’s director of fine arts. “It really helps drive home the meaning of Christmas and family, and what’s really important.”
The 11 students performed a range of Christmas songs, including the classics like “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Silent Night,” and “Mary, Did You Know?” Also, they sung more contemporary hits like Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” and “525,600 Minutes” from the Broadway hit, Rent.
Additionally, the Padua students sung two songs in Swahili, “Betelehemu” and “Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe.” “Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe” translates to “There is No God Like You.”
“Participating in this event is all about giving people the Christmas that they’re dreaming of and bringing joy and happiness to other people,” said senior Sophia Kucera ’25.
“It’s using the talents that God gave me to bring something good to others. Finding what you’re good at and finding the things that God wants you to do is very important to bringing joy to others. I think that’s what CFO is all about. It’s making the holidays special for other people, while making memories with my friends.”
United’s Fantasy Flights are a series of 13 special flights across the country, from Honolulu to Washington-Dulles, and internationally in London and Tokyo, to help lift the spirits of families in need. These families have either lost a loved one on active duty or are caring for a child with cancer.
In addition to welcoming the families for the Fantasy Flight, the Padua singers brought Christmas cheer to many others waiting at the ticket counters and bag drops on the main concourse.
Their voices were so inspiring that two passengers headed to Italy, and then, Austria, for Christmas joined in the singing of “Joy to the World.”
“It was a wonderful experience that I could help cheer up families and bring joy to those who weren’t even part of the experience and decided to sing with us,” said senior Emma Takacs ’25. “We get to share the joy of Christmas with what God gave us.”
