Those attending the vigil Mass on March 14 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland enjoyed hearing about three dozen children sing as part of the sixth annual Diocesan Children’s Choir Festival.
Students from 10 parishes in the diocese participated in the daylong event. Rosemary Heredos, a soprano and scholar, was the guest conductor. She is a specialist in early music with a particular emphasis on Gregorian chant and is a lecturer in sacred music and voice. She also teaches chant workshops and voice lessons.
(See photo gallery above.)
Choir members gathered at St. Peter Church in Cleveland for two rehearsal sessions led by Heredos. They took a lunch break before walking to the cathedral where the group participated in a scavenger hunt and another rehearsal.
During Mass, which was celebrated by Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, some of the children served as cantors, leading the congregation in the responsorial psalm and other parts of the liturgy.
Father Garris introduced the choir and thanked them for their contribution to the liturgy.
In his homily, he talked about how Jesus helped a blind man to see, noting he formed a salve from his saliva and the earth. “On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that we are dust and unto dust we will return,” Father Garris said.
Participating parishes were Holy Trinity, Avon; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lorain; St. Bernadette, Westlake; St. Charles Borromeo, Parma; SS. Edward and Lucy, Parkman; St. John Neumann, Strongsville; St. Joseph, Avon Lake; St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Avon; St. Peter, Lorain and St. Barnabas, Northfield.
Planning committee members were Angela Bak, Meg Matuska and Jolene Nelson. Tom Fielding, cathedral music director and organist, helped coordinate the event.
Choir directors who helped prepare singers for the event were Melissa Anderson, Bak, Lorene Coughlin, Max Menkhaus, Nelson, Anthony Trifiletti, Glenn Turpin and Mara Wehrung.