Marissa Ellison has literally grown up before our eyes! She has been a part of the music ministry since she was 10 years old and is now getting ready to go to college this fall.
It all started when she joined the Choir of Angels, which is the group that sings every week at school Mass. Having a knack for singing (and nerves of steel), she entered the cantor training program when she was in 5th grade and shortly thereafter began singing as a cantor at Sunday Mass. She joined the Chorale when she was in 7th grade and since then has faithfully attended all practices and liturgies in between homework and other school projects. When she was 13 years old, she became the youngest person in Wisconsin (and possibly the U.S.) to earn her basic cantor certification through the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. She was in the National Catholic Youth Choir for 3 years and toured with them giving concerts all over the country, including one here at St. Francis de Sales.
She has also sung in the SFDS Swing Choir and been in the school plays and musicals. Her credits include Annie, Seussical, High School Musical, Willy Wonka, Alice in Wonderland, Sound of Music, and many others at Badger High School, Chapel on the Hill, Catholic Central, Lake Lawn, and The Abbey Resort. She has been involved in the choirs at her high school, and has participated in Solo and Ensemble for all 4 years of her high school career, qualifying for state every year! She has been recognized with the National School Choral Award as well as maintaining high-honor status throughout her years at Badger High School. And somehow she finds the time to work part time at TJ Maxx!
Always willing to help, she has been a volunteer aide during the SFDS Vacation Bible Camp, organized and filed music, and often serves on the Art and Environment Committee changing out the decorations in our church. For the past 2 years (one as her senior project), she directed and helped to organize our children’s Christmas Choir, having sung in it herself for many years.
In what ways did her volunteer work at SFDS bring her closer to God?
“…By bringing me closer to others. I’ve interacted with so many different people in my time here and have been able to examine many different points of view. I feel that by knowing and empathizing with a variety of people, I get to help experience God’s creation and maybe use those experiences to guide me towards the right path.”
For Marissa, the next step on her path is Marquette University with a double major in mathematics and theatre arts. All of us here at St. Francis THANK YOU for all you have done for our parish and for others, and will proudly follow your future progress!