Posted April 24, 2015

The Philadelphia Oratory in Fairmount will host nationally touring recording artist Alanna-Marie Boudreau for its spring concert on Saturday, May 2 at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall, 24th and Wallace Streets in Philadelphia.

Admission will be $15 in advance, $20 door, with proceeds benefiting the church. Beer, wine and food will be available for sale.

Boudreau, a Catholic who produces secular music, has recently released her second album, Hints and Guesses, following her debut work Hands in the Land. The Syracuse Post-Standard says the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Boudreau “possesses a soft charisma behind a strong and soulful voice and a portfolio of beautifully crafted original songs.” Her previous tour brought her from Los Angeles to Nashville, with 45 stops in between.

“Alanna’s May 2 concert will kick off a summer that will culminate with Pope Francis’ visit,” said Ben DiFrancesco, one of the organizers. Pope Francis will visit Philadelphia Sept. 26-27 to cap the World Meeting of Families. He is slated to celebrate Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a block away from St. Francis Xavier Church.

“We hope that people of all faiths and all ages, but particularly young adults, join us both to raise money for our parish and its school, but also to forge friendships in preparation for the papal visit,” DiFrancesco said. “The coming months are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate to reinvigorate faith, fellowship and good works in the City of Brotherly Love. We’re excited to start the summer with such a talented entertainer and artist as Alanna-Marie Boudreau.”

The Secular Oratory of Philadelphia is an informal group of Catholics, mainly in their 20s and 30s, who meet every Tuesday with the priests of the Philadelphia Oratory at St. Francis Xavier Church for vespers and Bible meditation, followed by a social in the parish house.