A trio of internationally-recognized inspirational vocalists and recording artists will headline the annual Advent Lessons and Carols program at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville.

John Angotti, Meredith Augustin and Tony Alonso will join the St. Thomas Music Makers, including both youth and adult choirs and instrumentalists, in this prayerful presentation of Scripture readings and music that will provide a beautifully inspiring, faith-filled preparation for Christmas.

A free-will offering will be accepted at the door.

Angotti has been a familiar face at St. Thomas since 2006 when he began a two-year engagement as guest artist-in-residence funded by parish families. He is a full-time music missionary who travels world-wide, providing inspirational music and witness to all age groups though concerts, workshops, retreats, missions, conferences and worship. In addition, Angotti has composed and recorded a full repertoire of sacred music. He also is director of music and liturgy at St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin, Tenn.

Augustin, director of music at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in midtown Manhattan, is a featured soloist on most of Angotti’s recordings. She has worked in ministry since the age of nine as cantor, accompanist and choir director for churches. Currently, she also serves as vice president of pastoral services at RENEW International, an organization that works with dioceses and parishes in sharing their faith in small communities within parishes. In addition, Augustin has released four solo records.

Alonso is a Latin Grammy nominated composer of sacred music and a scholar whose work responds to the diverse realities of contemporary culture. His music appears in compilations and hymnals across Christian denominations throughout the world, and his "Mass of Joy and Peace" is one of the most widely sung Mass settings in the English-speaking world. In 2015, Alonso’s compositional work was recognized with an invitation to compose the responsorial psalm for the first Mass Pope Francis celebrated in the United States.

Further information about the Advent Lessons and Carols program is available by contacting Scott Knisley, director of liturgy and music at St. Thomas the Apostle, at (630) 355-8980, ext. 111 or [email protected].

St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God’s unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness, and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,000 households and over 9,000 registered members. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.