HOWARD BEACH — When the students from St. Helen Catholic Academy arrived at the Bishop’s Annual Christmas Luncheon at Russo’s on the Bay, they were appropriately dressed in their school uniforms — blue plaid for girls and blue shirts and ties for boys. 

But it didn’t take long before 14 second-graders from that group transformed into First Century shepherds, angels, visitors from the East, and villagers. 

The young members were chosen to reenact a traditional Nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus while Bishop Robert Brennan read the Gospel story of the birth of Christ. 

Thirty members of the Parish/Academy children’s choir, ranging from fourth to eighth graders, performed prior to the luncheon as guests were arriving. 

“This was a great honor for us,” said Donna Villagi, a second-grade teacher. “The children have been working very hard on this while putting their faith into practice.” 

She added that the following week, the children would be performing the Christmas pageant for their own school. 

Teacher Jessica Demarest agreed, “It was a great honor for the school to have been chosen for this.” 

The children’s choir sings every Sunday at St. Helen’s 9:30 a.m. Mass. 

“Our choir is quite strong with well over 30 students, and each week more students are asking to take part,” said Michael Ammirabile, whose son Santini is a member of the choir. 

“This is a testament to Steve Giusto, our music director, and Gaspar Maniscalco, a music teacher at our school who assists Mr. Giusto, both of whom worked tirelessly to help rebuild the choir after the pandemic.” 

Ammirabile, treasurer for the Home Academy executive board, pointed out that the previous week, the students had participated in a Christmas concert at The Ridgewood Presbyterian Church, the only children’s choir asked to perform alongside the adults. 

Bishop Brennan was so impressed by the children who reenacted the Nativity that he asked them to participate in the taping of his Sunday reflections for the third Sunday in Advent.