The members of the Our Lady of Grace Chapel Singers have become a big part of the 9:30 AM Sunday liturgy in Bristol. They have volunteered their time and talent since 1996 and we are all blessed by their dedication and ability.

Terry Casey was born in New Brunswick, Canada into a musical family where her mother played accordion and her father played violin.  Terry’s six brothers played guitar, mandolin and accordion and her sister sang in the church choir for over 60 years.  Terry started to sing the minute she could speak because in the countryside of New Brunswick there was not much to do for fun.  Every day on the farm the family enjoyed a half hour of music and singing after the noon meal.  Terry came to America when she was 20 years old and lived in Newtonville, Mass. where she sang in the choir and then onto Billerica where she also sang.  After moving to the Lakes Region, Terry joined the choir at St. Timothy Parish and after it disbanded, joined the Chapel Singers folk group.

Bob Perron was a member of his high school choir choral group at the all-boys Central Catholic High in Lawrence, Mass.  They invited the girls from St. Mary’s High School to sing with them and were very professional, enjoyed four-part harmony and sang everything from show tunes to the Hallelujah Chorus.  It was a lot of fun and yet a lot of work.  Bob sang in the folk group at Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Salem, NH where he met his wife, Maria.  It wasn’t until Bob and Maria moved to Hill and after their youngest son was old enough to be with his siblings in the pew that Bob was again able to join Maria singing at St. Paul Parish in Franklin.  After their move to Bristol in 1996, Bob joined Maria singing at St. Timothy Parish, at first in the small church and then to the chapel where at its best there were seven members and many wonderful moments with their members and their families.

At 14 years old, Maria Perron received a gift of a guitar from her parents.  The gift was a very special one for her and she began to teach herself how to play.  Maria spent much of her time in her room writing and recording songs until her mother encouraged her to share her gift and join the folk group at Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Salem, NH.  Maria reluctantly joined knowing she still had much to learn.  Maria met her husband, Bob, by joining the folk group.

Maria stopped singing during some difficult times but began again with the Hosanna People at St. Paul’s Parish after she and Bob moved to Hill.  Maria sang with the group and still hadn’t picked up her guitar until after she attended a workshop with David Haas who beautifully explained the order of the mass.  Maria was filled with a new mission and a new desire.  After moving to Bristol in 1996, she approached the St. Timothy rectory and asked if they would like a folk group.  The welcome was wonderful and Maria and Bob, with some members from the Hosanna People, started to sing at St. Timothy.  Eventually, people came and went, and the chapel was used for all weekend masses.  It was then decided that they needed a name:  Our Lady of Grace Chapel Singers was the choice.

Holy Trinity Parish