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| REPORT - PUERI CANTORES CONGRESS ROME - Dec. 2010 |
Monday, December 27th: Choir members and families gathered at Dublin airport for the beginning of what was to be a most memorable trip to Rome. The return of good weather meant that flights were on time and, with no hitches, we arrived at our accommodation at around 9.15 p.m. We quickly got organised and went round the corner to Pinocchio’s restaurant which was to become our ‘home from home!’ |
PUERI CANTORES OPENING CEREMONY
Tuesday, December 28th: Tuesday morning was free so families had time to take it easy or begin to explore the Eternal City. At 3.30 p.m. we all met in St Peter’s Square. Pueri Cantores bags and badges were distributed and soon we were entering La Sala Nervi, the Paul VI Audience Hall which was opened in 1971. We took our seats for rehearsal and during the Opening Ceremony Padraic O Brolchain and Conor Gleeson proudly carried the Irish flag and a candle up to the stage. The 36th International Congress for the Pueri Cantores had begun! |
NATIONAL MASS - Wednesday, December 29th:
 We had an early start, setting out by metro, with a change and breakfast! at Termini. At 9.15 a.m. we arrived at the beautiful Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for 10:00 a.m. Mass with the singers from the American Federation of Pueri Cantores. The American parents were very impressed with this small Irish choir of many young singers who sang out so well! After Mass a visit to the tomb of St Paul with Fr Robert McCabe (Chaplain to the Irish Federation of Pueri Cantores who was with us for the week) giving us lots of interesting information on the history of St Paul and of the basilica.
Following this we headed off by metro to the Colosseum and from there walked to the Irish College (near the Basilica of St John Lateran) to visit the beautiful chapel with wonderful new mosaics.
The afternoon and evening were free so families had another opportunity of visiting many of the sights of Rome.
That evening, Ite O’D. and Fr Robert attended the Pueri Cantores Gala Concert in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Even though Piccolo Lasso had not applied to sing in this concert there was an Irish contribution, The most popular item in the concert was Seinn Alleluia, Ms O’D’s arrangement of The Seven Joys of Mary, (It is on our Angel Tidings CD) sung in Irish by the German Choir, the Essener Domsingknaben directed by Georg Sump (who organized the trip to Essen by The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso in 2004).
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PAPAL AUDIENCE
Thursday, December 30th:
Another early start! We stopped for breakfast at a local coffee bar and at 8.30 am arrived at Sala Nervi. Today the choirs would not only meet together to have a rehearsal but would also have the opportunity of seeing and even meeting Pope Benedict XVI who is a very good musician and a great lover of good church music.
On stage to welcome him in the group representing all the National federations were Kate McGowan and Max O’Neill. |
All the National Presidents of Pueri Cantores were introduced to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV1, and invited to bring with them one choir singer. Representing Piccolo Lasso was Katie Conway who was celebrating her 12th Birthday! |
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Piccolo Lasso and families in the Audience Hall.
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 Later that evening choirs from all over the world gave ‘Star Concerts’ at various Rome Parishes. Piccolo lasso sang at the beautiful Church of SAN LEONE I PAPA Via Prenestina 104 with the St. Francis of Assisi Choir of Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Following the concert the Parish Priest, Mons. Vito Di Nuzzo, invited the two choirs to an evening outdoor picnic – with pasta and panetoni!
A great end to a very exciting day!
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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER AND CEREMONY FOR PEACE
Friday, December 31st:
We had a slight lie-in on Friday morning and set out at around 9.00 a.m. to go by metro and bus to the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Fr Robert was helping with the organisation of this Eucharistic Prayer and Ceremony for Peace which took place at 11.00 a.m. and Ite O’D was conducting the ten choirs who had gathered together. (There were a number of these prayer services between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.) Just before 11.00 we had a short rehearsal of the music to be sung which included the plainchant Tantum Ergo for Benediction. |
It was a beautiful and most prayerful celebration.
The chief celebrant was Archbishop Piero Marini who is President of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses and will be responsible for the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012. |
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After the Eucharistic Prayer the Irish group went to visit the Pantheon which was nearby.
For New Year’s Evening many choir members and families gathered together in Pinocchio’s for a festive meal! We had an extension on our ‘curfew’ until 11.15 p.m. and returned to the Suore Oblates to ring in the New Year at midnight - Rome time!
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MASS FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY
Saturday, January 1st
By now we were well used to early rising and, as the Metro was not running, we hire a bus to bring us from our accommodation to St Peter’s Basilica for the Mass for New Year’s Day, celebrated by Pope Benedict. Crowds of singers filled the square and when the doors of the great basilica opened at 8.20 a.m. there was a rush to get good seats inside! The 4,500 singers rehearsed, accompanied by a brass ensemble and the Mass for Peace beganat 10.00 a.m. |
Two members of Piccolo Lasso, Head Choristers Mark Keegan and Conor Gleeson were privileged to bring up the gifts at the Offertory. |
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Both Mark and Conor (who are cousins!) had the opportunity of meeting Pope Benedict and telling him that they were from Ireland. A New Year greeting to be remembered! |
At the end of Mass Mark and Conor met Cardinal Raymond Burke for whom The Lassus Scholars have sung in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome (January 2010) and at FOTA III. (Cork July 2010). |
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On New Year’s evening all the families gathered together in L’Eau Vive restaurant, near the Pantheon, for a wonderful meal together.
MASS in SANTA TRINITÀ
Sunday January 2nd:
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On Sunday we were once again on the move early and arrived at the church of Ss Trinita dei Pellegrini at 9.45 a.m. for rehearsal and Latin Mass at 10.30 a.m. This is the church where The Lassus Scholars sang Mass and Vespers for the Feast of the Epiphany in 2010. Piccolo Lasso gave a beautiful performance of Missa Pueri Cantores (Menschick) which we sang at the Maynooth Pueri Cantores in October.
( See YouTube: http://www.gloria.tv/?user=23174) |
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Our great Roman adventure was almost over!
Some time still for sight-seeing and shopping
and a final group photo!
On Monday 3rd we headed back to Dublin refreshed and inspired after our visit to the Eternal City!
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Ite O’Donovan Jan 9th 2011 |
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