The campus will host a Christmas village with vendors, campus lighting, blessing of manger while annual ‘A Saint Leo Christmas’ will be at Holy Name Monastery and Saint Leo Abbey Church
Saint Leo University invites the local community to celebrate the Christmas season at its campus! All events are free and open to all ages. Saint Leo will kick off the holidays on Thursday, December 5, with its Christmas Celebration and its A Saint Leo Christmas concerts (4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at two locations).
The schedule is as follows:
A Saint Leo Christmas – holiday concert
4 p.m., Benedictine Sisters of Florida’s Holy Name Monastery, 12138 Wichers Road, St. Leo, FL 33574 (across the County Road 52 from the university).
Christmas Village
5 – 7 p.m., Saint Leo University Student Activities Building loggias and clock tower courtyard
The holiday “village” is co-sponsored by the town of St. Leo and will feature local vendors, food, activities, special guests from the North Pole, and Christmas decorations.
Campus Lighting and Manger Blessing
5:45 p.m., Saint Leo University walkway by Leo the Lion sculpture
This is the annual blessing of the university’s Nativity scene and throwing the switch to light Saint Leo’s campus.
Christmas Carols
6:45 p.m., meet at Saint Leo University lion statue walkway
Walk to the Saint Leo Abbey Church by candlelight and sing along to popular Christmas carols
A Saint Leo Christmas – holiday concert and sing-along
7 p.m., Saint Leo Abbey Church
Concert Information
With A Saint Leo Christmas concerts being held in the beautiful spaces of Holy Name Monastery and Saint Leo Abbey Church, Dr. Cynthia Selph, director of the university’s music program, is making selections “that will fill those hallowed spaces with gorgeous music that celebrates both the sacred and cultural meaning of Christmas,” she said. Highlights will be choral music including O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridson, What Sweeter Music by John Rutter, and Ave Maria by David MacIntyre, in addition to familiar Christmas carols in a sing-along with the audience.
The Saint Leo Rhythm Machine will feature some jazz arrangements of familiar Christmas tunes such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The string ensemble also will be featured in the concert, and Dr. Kyle Cherwinski will share some Christmas music on the marimba.
There is no charge for the concerts, but donations are welcome to help send some Saint Leo students to perform at Carnegie Hall in March. Donations may be made online. A QR code for donations will be available at the concerts.
Seating is first come, first served with the Holy Name Monastery being a smaller space for the 4 p.m. concert, while the Saint Leo Abbey Church can accommodate more guests at the 7 p.m. performance. For more information about the concerts, email chantelle.macphee@saintleo.edu.
Christmas Celebration Information
Saint Leo University is at 33701 County Road 52, St. Leo, FL 33574. Free parking is available in surface lots and in the campus garage.
Those with questions or who need more information may email heidi.dambrosio02@saintleo.edu.
Requests for accommodations can be made by emailing Section504@saintleo.edu. For more information, visit saintleo.edu/accommodations.