Contributed
Annual tradition of lighting a Christmas tree on campus continued at Albertus Magnus College, pandemic-style.
Albertus celebrated its eighth annual Christmas tree-lighting virtually this year for students finishing up the semester this week after returning home for the remainder of the semester after Thanksgiving break.
The student alumni association invited Anne Leeney-Panagrossi, retired library director and college archivist, to light a tree that was planted in 2013 in memory of her husband Kevin Panagrossi, a former admission counselor and academic advisor.
She lit the tree Monday evening alongside college President Marc Camille.
Albertus Facebook
Leeney-Panagrossi, Camille, and the college mascot Frankie counted down from five … then the campus tree, decorated in blue and silver ornaments, shined bright on the Aquinas Hall Lawn.
A total of 60 participants watched the virtual gathering to kick off the holiday spirits.
In 2014 Albertus began a new tradition of remembrance by lighting a luminaria on campus to spread “peace, hope, and joy in honor of loved ones,” said student alumni association Vice-President Jessica Coughlin.
Camille said the Dec. 7 gathering holds significance for many reasons, including on the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Father Jordan Lenaghan and Sr. Anne Kilbride blessed the tree with holy water after saying a prayer for peace, hope, and joy for the holiday’s and coming new year.
The college’s chrous closed out the virtual gathering with the singing of Silent Night.
This story was produced with financial support from Solutions Journalism Network.
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