Candlelit Concert Sunday At Saint Thomas More To Benefit Ukraine

NEW HAVEN, CT — Karolina Wojteczko, a Yale School of Music graduate, who grew up in Poland not far from the Ukraine border, wanted to do more. Collecting and sending clothing and supplies is a worthy and important effort. In an interview with the Yale Daily News, she said she'd do what she has been doing her entire life: sing.

Wojteczko, St. Thomas More Chapel interim music director, organized and will sing the performance for ‘Kyrie: A Musical Vigil for Peace to Benefit Ukraine,’ Sunday at the Chapel located at 286 Park St., from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The concert will also be live-streamed here. People may also make donations at the site.

"Wojteczko will perform from the choir loft in the back of the church, meaning audience members will not be able to see her. The lights will be dimmed, and the church will instead have candle lights on the altar. The cross at the middle of the altar will be lit up from the back," the Yale Daily News reported. "According to Wojteczko, the shadow of a dove will be reflected on the fingers of Jesus on the cross, such that it appears to be in flight."

Described as a "special hour of music" donations from the candlelit concert will benefit refugees from Ukraine. Wojteczko, Mezzo-Soprano, will perform sacred music selections from across the centuries with organ, violin, and cello accompaniment.

"The situation with Ukrainian refugees is heartbreaking and horrible," Wojteczko told Patch. "Children have no homes and in most cases are separated from their fathers and/or grandfathers who were left behind to fight."

'We need to pray for peace'

From the small village of Bagny near the Belarus border, she has many family members living in Poland, including her parents and sister, with her family.

"Everyone in Poland is very worried about what is happening and what is going to happen," she told Patch. "We keep on asking ourselves: 'Are we going to be next that Russia will attack?' It's very nerve racking knowing that any day we might be invaded, and my family will have to flee the country. It is very difficult for me to live so far away from my family in Poland. If anything was to happen in Poland, I wouldn't be able to do anything or help. "

"Every day I wake up and pray for this nightmare to be over. So many innocent lives we have lost already. How many more do we have to lose in order for this war to stop? All of this is just horrible," she said. "We need to pray for peace."

Here's the full program, text and translations and more about Wojteczko and the musicians accompanying her.

‘Kyrie - A Musical Vigil fo... by Ellyn Santiago

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