‘Making Miracles Happen’ concert kicks off holidays, helps fundraise for trip to Rome

MIAMI GARDENS| At the Marian Center, faculty, parents and volunteers believe they walk among angels.

On Dec. 20, that belief proved true as a host of Marian Center students dressed as angels walked among the audience during the “Making Miracles Happen” Christmas concert.

Not only angels came, but shepherds and sheep, the three kings, a colorguard, musicians and choirs, singing and celebrating Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The choir from St. Joseph Church in Miami Beach also performed, as well as Ralph Dividio and friends, and award-winning opera tenor Roberto Iarussi.

Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC

Marian Center students depict Mary and Joseph welcoming their newborn Jesus.

Every year, the Marian Center, a school and training center for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, hosts a Christmas pageant, but this was the first time they combined the event with a concert. The reason: the center’s hand bell choir has been invited to perform for Pope Francis, in Rome, in April 2018.

The concert helped launch the “Let the Bells Ring” drive, which aims to raise $60,000 for travel expenses, transportation, accommodations, meals and all other necessities for the hand bell choir, staff, and chaperones.