The Madrigal

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The Madrigal Dinner The annual Madrigal Dinner sponsored by the Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s Women’s Club was first held in December 2006. It began as a fund-raising suggestion from Women’s Club member, Sharon MacLaren who agreed to direct the event.  The Madrigal is a combination of pageantry, food and fun which is performed at the beginning of the religious Christmas season. The setting for the evening is a fifteenth century manor house decorated with festive banners and holiday greenery. The dinner is hosted by the ‘Lord and Lady of the Manor’ who have invited guests from far and wide to celebrate Christmas, the birth of the Savior. The event begins with a candle procession reflecting Christ as the “Light of the World”. It continues with a typical medieval dinner served by the manor ‘wenches’ and entertainment by musicians, dancers, jesters, magicians and a variety of other entertainers all dressed in typical 15th century finery. In its first year, 2006, the dinner was performed on two nights. The following year, the scheduled three nights sold out quickly so a fourth night was added. In 2008 and 2009, it was held for three nights.  More than 100 performers and behind-the-scene volunteers yearly contribute to the success of this event. Many are from other local churches and the McCormick community. It is because of their generosity and support of the parishioners that the madrigal dinner has enabled the Women’s Club to meet their pledge and contribute even  more to the building of the new Good Shepherd Church.