Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!



The group rang in the new year early...as we have 5:30am wake up calls and a 6:00 breakfast...but we still had fun! While the parents celebrated...the kids ran the halls blowing horns and screaming....not to worry however, all the other groups joined them.

Colosseum, Palatino, Forum, and more...
















Today our group toured the Roman “Colosseo” where thousands of Christians were believed to be martyred throughout Roman history. Next we moved to the Forum where we toured the ruins of the ancient town and used our imagination to consider what this area might have been like at one time. The afternoon included many sites that families visited on their own and of course a delicious lunch and more shopping. Tonight we will ring in the New Year early at the religious housing because we have to be at St. Peter’s Basilica by 7am for the 10am Mass.

Here are a few more from yesterday's audience...

Check out the Pope's sweet red shoes...made for him by a Tuscan leather maker.




Thursday, December 30, 2010

Free Time!





After the morning rehearsal and the audience with Pope Benedict, the group had free time. Some visited the Catacombs while others checked out the famous sites around the city including Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and Via Condotti for some wonderful shopping experiences.

An Audience with the Pope

The full text of the Pope’s greeting:
Dear young members of the Pueri Cantores Federation,
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to welcome you today as you celebrate your thirty-sixth International Congress here in Rome and I thank you for the commitment you have shown to the apostolate of choral singing in the liturgy. In Saint Augustine’s words: “singing is an expression of joy and … love” (Sermo 34:1). As you use your talents and your faith to sing God’s praises, you give voice to the natural desire of every human being to glorify him, with songs of love. It is hard to find words to convey the sheer joy of the soul’s loving encounter with God, indeed the great mystics could only remain silent before the mystery. Yet beautiful music is able to express something of the mystery of God’s love for us and ours for him, as we are reminded by the theme chosen for your Congress, Deus Caritas Est.
Always remember that your singing is a service. Firstly, it is a service to God, a way of giving him the praise that is due. It is also a service to your fellow worshippers, helping them to raise their hearts and minds to the Lord in prayer. And it is a service to the whole Church, offering a foretaste of the heavenly liturgy that is the goal of all true worship, when the choirs of angels and saints unite in one unending song of love and praise.
I greet especially the groups present today from the United States, Sweden, Ireland, Latvia and South Korea. I encourage you to persevere in your good work, I assure you of my prayers, and I gladly invoke upon you God’s abundant blessings.














This morning is one that will never be forgotten for those in our travel group. Following the choral practice at the Sala Nervi the Holy Father visited the children of Pueri Cantores to bestow a blessing. As he approached the stage at the front of the hall the children sang the Congress theme song, Deus Caritas Est and it truly brought tears to everyone's eyes. Following this the group sang Adeste Fidelis and Hark the Herald Angels Sing and then the group was presented to the Pope by the President of Pueri Cantores. In turn, Benedict blessed the group and thanked them for using their God given talents to praise the Lord.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

More from our busy, busy day!













So we staged one photo....






What a day!











This day was amazing. We attended the Mass of Nations which featured the choirs from the American and Irish Federations of the Pueri Cantores. The Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the tomb of St. Paul is found under the main altar. Those who visited the altar were able to view both the tomb and the shackles that bound the martyr. It was an awesome experience for the students and parents alike. The acoustics in the basilica amplified the sounds of the choral aspects of the Mass. Many were moved to tears during the singing of Silent Night and Adeste Fidelis. The Homily was delivered by an inspiring priest from San Antonio, Florida who reminded us of the call of young Christian men and women to be like St. Paul and spread the Word of God. After Mass, we were addressed by a bishop who reminded the students of the celebration of the twelve days of Christmas that are locally celebrated.

Next the groups passed through the gypsy brigades and drove to Piazza Navona where we visited the Christmas market and many made the short trek to the Pantheon.
Following our free time in Piazza Novena the group joined the choir from St. Cecilia Catholic School Choir for a concert at St. Cecilia Church in Trastevere. The students performed beautifully and the public who joined this free concert enjoyed the sounds of Christmas joy that came from each choir.
Dinner was back at the religious housing which worked out perfectly for our gangs of teenagers who loved running the halls and spending time with one another…many of the parents were left in the bar area so we hope to make our 6:30 breakfast call tomorrow morning.

Off to sleep to prepare for our audience with Pope Benedict XVI tomorrow at the Sala Nervi.