The Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston played host to Massachusetts children's choirs and those from outside the state. The musical gathering happened on March 4 and was part of the New England Pueri Cantores Youth Choir Festival and Mass.
St. Paul's Choir School music director James Kennerley was 2023's New England Pueri Cantores Youth Choir Festival and Mass guest conductor.
Pueri Cantores
According to The Boston Pilot, Pueri Cantores is an international Catholic school choir organization featuring Catholic students. "Pueri cantores" is Latin for "children singers," the news outlet said.
The Boston Pilot disclosed in a report that some 100 Catholic children rehearsed musical pieces for the Mass celebrated by Bp. Robert Reed. Bishop Reed is the auxiliary bishop of the Boston archdiocese.
The report said Pueri Cantores seeks to "evangelize and catechize choristers through sacred music." The organization's U.S. arm is responsible for organizing choral festivals in regional churches, basilicas, and cathedrals like the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
The news outlet revealed that Kennerley seated the various participating choirs in a mixed manner. The Massachusetts choral groups included Brighton's St. Columbkille Partnership School, Cambridge's St. Paul's Choir School "The Boy Choristers," Still River's Immaculate Heart of Mary School Chorus, Beverly's St. Margaret of Scotland Children's Choir, and host Cathedral of the Holy Cross Youth and Adult choirs.
Meanwhile, those outside Massachusetts were the Sunapee, New Hampshire Mount Royal Academy Choir, Tolland, Connecticut's Blessed Sacrament Children's Choir, and Manchester, New Hampshire's t. Cecilia Youth Schola of Ste. Marie Parish.
Importance of Pueri Cantores
According to St. Margaret of Scotland Children's Choir director Christopher Hebard, the choral festival helped push their choir and offered them a fresh appreciation of music as choir directors. Hebard also reflected on the importance of children's choir and music in the Holy Mass.
"The children learn the richness of the Church's tradition, hear the beauty of goodness, and take the texts that they sing into their hearts and minds," The Boston Pilot quoted him saying.
Meanwhile, Immaculate Heart of Mary School choral director Michael Olbash said Pueri Cantores is unlike other similar musical festivals. Olbash explained that it is "entirely non-auditioned and non-competitive." He said this allows each choir member to sing with fellow youth choristers with a shared love for making music.
Finally, St. Columbkille Partnership School choir director Kiara Zani expressed her delight that her students met fellow singers from Catholic choirs across New England. Zani described the Cathedral of the Holy Cross as "magnificent." She said she is looking forward to next year's Pueri Cantores.
About the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Its website said that the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the Archdiocese of Boston's "mother church." The cathedral was dedicated in 1875.
Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley calls the cathedral his home. The Very Rev. Msgr. Kevin O'Leary is the cathedral's rector, while the Most Rev. Robert Reed is the Archdiocese of Boston's auxiliary bishop.
The website adds that the cathedral offers Masses and sacraments in several languages, including Latin, English, and Spanish.
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