MARCH 2007 
VOLUME 26, NUMBER 3
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC PARISH 
835 2^nd AVE. NW 
NEW BRIGHTON, MN 55112-6842
PHONE:  (651) 633-8333 
FAX:  (651) 633-7404 
E-MAIL:  stjohnsnb@pclink.com
WEB SITE:  www.stjohnnb.com

SJB Youth Choirs: Sing to the Lord a New Song
Mary Anne Bennek, Associate Director of Adult Music & Director of  Youth Music

St. John's Youth Choirs are now formally part of the Official Student Choral Organization of the Catholic Church, which is called Pueri Cantores, Latin for "youth or young singers." Please visit  this website for a complete history, www.puericantores.com.   

What does this all mean?  It means that St. John's Youth Choirs are undergoing a major transformation...
 
First of all, Pueri Cantores is the finest and best choral organization in the world today for young Catholic singers. It has been approved by every pope since Pius XII. It brings together young singers to raise the profile of distinguished choral music in church, school, community, and artistic settings, and encourages the use of great liturgical music in the Mass -- not to mention attracting professional choral directors to instill those values and goals embraced by the organization. The American Federation of Pueri Cantores includes school and parish choirs, and it is experiencing dynamic growth throughout the United States. Its 2008 goal is to achieve 400 choirs involving 10,000 singers. Already, the International Federation of Pueri Cantores  has 60,000 singers in 30 countries!
 
Each chorister learns and sings a repertoire spanning 1,500 years, from Gregorian Chant to 20^th century music, including sacred, spiritual, folk, and patriotic music. Pueri Cantores provides the choristers (ages 7 - 18) with a clearer understanding of our Catholic faith, and allows them to experience a closeness to God and Church which they can carry throughout their lives. By elevating students' education through this type of choral excellence, they not only gain spiritual growth and academic enrichment, but they develop cultural compassion through travel and the building of national and international friendships. A school or parish choir's membership in Pueri Cantores creates additional opportunities to sing in local, national, and international settings. Besides a choir's own individual repertoire, singers learn a limited-shared repertoire which they are invited to sing with other Pueri Cantores choirs at festivals, Masses, and community events locally, nationally, and throughout the world.
 
Our Youth Choirs will be traveling to Chicago in May 2007 to participate in their first ever choir festival at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in the Chicago area. Our singers are currently in the Hallelujah Chorus (3^rd - 6^th grades) and Hosanna (7^th - 12^th grades). Plans are underway, and there will be 40 - 50 choir members from St. John's singing at this festival.
 
Also, this fall, I will divide the Youth Choirs into three separate choirs. There will be the Lower Choir (2^nd - 5^th grades), the Middle Choir (6^th - 8^th grades), and the Upper Choir (9^th - 12^th grades). All choirs fall under the umbrella of Pueri Cantores. A trip to Washington, DC, for the "Festival of the Americas" in July 2008 will be our next venture.

More information is forthcoming in the next few months, but ALL of St. John's youth are welcome to participate in Pueri Cantores!

I am so very excited to embark upon this new direction with our Youth Choirs at St. John's. Please keep us in your prayers; God's graces are shining down upon us! To learn more, call me, Mary Anne Bennek, at (651) 633-8333, ext. 1220.