SISTENE CHAPEL CHOIR
The “Sistine Chapel Choir” is the chorus of the liturgical celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. Present since the first centuries of the Church, since then, the Pontifical Musical Chapel became the Pope’s personal choir and was renamed “Sistina choir” as a tribute to the man who revived it (Pope Sixtus IV in 1471), and because usually the choir sang in this chapel.
In addition to its main commitment under the Papal Liturgy, the Choir of the Sistine Chapel performs in concerts around the world where, through the historical heritage of music for Liturgy, it carries out, according to its mandate, a work of Evangelization. The choir, composed of 30 boys and 22 men, were at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., last weekend. They arrived in the Motor City on Thursday. Since then, they spent an evening with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, and they toured the city, including stops at Belle Isle Park and the Detroit Institute of the Arts. They performed at St. Anne De Detroit, Friday, and at the Detroit Opera House yesterday.
Today, we are blessed to have this illustrious choir with us but they will not be performing. Rather, they will be leading us into the symbolic language of worship, a vehicle of God’s revelation. Excellent liturgical music can evoke a personal response from us as individuals and can enhance our relationship with God. Therefore, as you enter into today’s liturgy, I invite you to not solely be entertained, but to allow your mind and heart to be elevated to our Lord as you fully, actively, and consciously enter into today’s Mass.
SUCCESS OF MINISTRIES
With the Archbishop’s letter, “Unleash the Gospel”; with the training of our staff and parishioners in hospitality, evangelization, and more fully answering the call to serve our Lord; and with all the new opportunities we offer in culture (art), education, and Christian service, things have been elevated to a new level in our Cathedral cluster. We want you, too, to join in on the various opportunities we offer. To motivate you I want you to read some sound bites from some non-parishioners who have gotten involved:
The Called and Gifted series “gave me the words and explanation to my life. I am usually busy and I believe productive in trying to align my will with God’s will. However, I don’t always understand what’s going on around me or why I do some of the things I do. That’s life right? Reasonably happy, I’m just not always understanding. I have answers now as to who I am in God’s eyes and a better understanding of what is expected of me… This was one of the most enlightening things I have participated in. Thank you My Church for having this series. It was life changing and I am not exaggerating.”
What you offered “is one of the best workshops I have ever attended. I learned so much about the gifts that were given to me through the Holy Spirit and where and how to use my Charisms to impact and bring Jesus to others. . . The workshop increased my faith, prayer life and opened my eyes and brought understanding to why I do the things I do and where my passions really are.”
You too can have these kinds of experiences as well. We are offering the following opportunities for you: ALPHA: This is an amazing program we began a few weeks ago, but this is the last week to join the 80 others who are participating. HEAR DOROTHY DAY’S GRANDDAUGHTER SPEAK: Join us for a significant and enlightening presentation on October 29 as Kate Hennessy shares with us some of the key moments, struggles, commitments and dedications of her grandmother, Dorothy Day, whom Pope Francis named an American icon and whose case is moving forward for canonization. MUSIC OF NOTRE DAME DE PARIS: On Oct. 1, the choir of St. Paul Cathedral and the Archdiocesan Choir join us at our mother church to present music of the organists of one of the world’s great cathedrals.
God Bless,
Fr. J.J.