News

Green Bay concert to aid school in Africa

By Heather Chrudimsky
Compass Correspondent

Helping in Africa What: Benefit jazz concert Who: Richard Davis, a string bassist, and Nadi Qamar, a pianist and performer on African instruments. When: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. Where: Meyer Theatre, 117 S. Washington St., Green Bay. Why: To raise money for the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, mission in Mayuumba, Gabon, Africa. Tickets: $10 for adults and $5 for students. Available at the door, or at Henri's Music, Austin's Supermarket, The Guitar Cellar or any St. Joseph Oratory member.

The Meyer Theater in downtown Green Bay will be filled with the sounds of contemporary jazz music next month. Concert-goers will be able to enjoy a night of entertainment while helping a good cause - the people in Gabon, Africa.

The one-night-only jazz concert is sponsored by the Latin Mass Association in Green Bay and the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, which celebrates the Tridentine Latin Mass.

The contemporary jazz concert will feature Richard Davis and Nadi Qamar. Davis, a symphonic and jazz string bassist, is popular in Madison.

Qamar, a parishioner of St. Joseph's, has been playing jazz piano and African instruments for more than 50 years. He was popular in the 1950s, '60s and '70s in the New York City area. His wife, son and daughter will be involved in his performance with chanting.

"Nadi Qamar offered to perform for the concert and for that we are very grateful," said Fr. Jean-Marie Moreau, chaplain of St. Joseph Oratory.

The Institute of Christ the King sponsors a mission in Mayuumba, Gabon, on a remote lagoon near the Atlantic Ocean. Since arriving in Gabon, the Institute has restored and constructed several churches, chapels, schools, kindergartens and medical dispensaries.

Fr. Moreau recently finished 13 years of service at the Gabon mission. Fr. Andreas Hellmann, the former chaplain of St. Joseph Oratory, has taken Fr. Moreau's place in Gabon, but keeps in contact with many of the members in Green Bay.

Concert organizer and St. Joseph Oratory member Tom Roehrig said he keeps in contact with Fr. Hellmann, who has told him that more financial help is needed to continue the work of the mission. The area has little electricity, poor infrastructure and the constant threat of malaria with the nearest doctor 500 miles away.

Fr. Moreau said the funds would be used mainly to remodel and restore a former bordering school that was ruined by weather and insects. The goal is to raise $25,000.

Concert organizers hope that proceeds from the event will raise enough money to complete the repairs.

Every now and then, a special collection is taken at the oratory for medical supplies and religious articles for the Gabon. However, Roehrig said they hope the concert will raise a significant amount of money to restore the building.

"Education is freedom," Fr. Moreau said to emphasize the importance of restoring the school.

The concert is intended both to raise money and to raise community awareness of the needs of the people in Gabon, Fr. Moreau said.

Before the music starts, Fr. Moreau will give a short presentation, including a slide-show, on the mission in Gabon and what things are still needed.

Fr. Moreau said the people of Gabon live a simple, but hard life, with few modern amenities. They don't have access to automobiles and three generations live together in one house with electricity only 3-4 hours each day, Fr. Moreau said.

Roehrig said they hope the mission will someday have electrical power full time.

"We hope the concert is a great success so that we can continue to educate the children over in Gabon," Roehrig said.

The Latin Mass Community in the Green Bay Diocese began in 1967. The Latin Mass Association's first Mass was celebrated on April 1, 1976. Mass are offered in St. Joseph Chapel on the grounds of the Green Bay Diocesan office complex and is known as St. Joseph Oratory.

St. Joseph Oratory is part of The Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, and the chaplains are members of the Institute.

Oratory officials say they have 600-700 members. At their Mass, said entirely in Latin, the priest and congregation face the same direction and there are no female servers.