Tag: choir

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Dick Jones and Mary C. Uhler, For the Catholic Herald

Lessons and Carols could be Diocesan Choir’s last Advent service at O’Connor Center

Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.Dr. Patrick Gorman directs the Madison Diocesan Choir at last year's Lessons and Carols in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor
Dr. Patrick Gorman directs the Madison Diocesan Choir at last year’s Lessons and Carols in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison. At right is Glenn Schuster, the choir’s accompanist and assistant director. (Catholic Herald photo/Joe Ptak)

MADISON — When the Madison Diocesan Choir enters the chapel at the Bishop O’Connor Center on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 4 p.m., it might be the last time the choir presents its Festival of Lessons and Carols in this setting.

The traditional Advent prayer service celebrates the coming of Christ’s birth in Scripture and song. Bishop Robert C. Morlino will preside this year.

“It very well could be our last Lessons and Carols at the O’Connor Center,” said Dr. Patrick Gorman, the choir director. “If all goes as currently planned, I wouldn’t anticipate singing Lessons and Carols there next year.”

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Dick Jones, for the Catholic Herald

Former members of Diocesan Choir will return for special performance on May 3

The current Madison Diocesan Choir under the direction of Dr. Patrick Gorman. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — In celebrating 40 years of music ministry, the Madison Diocesan Choir will present a free spring concert like no other at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center on Friday, May 3.

The evening concert will include former members in performing favorite, heartfelt hymns of the past, as well as relatively new songs of praise.

Choir will swell to over 100 voices

The choir has more than 70 active members representing parishes throughout the diocese. On this festive occasion, however, its numbers will swell to more than 100 as the former members, some of them founding members, join in singing sacred music, including signature pieces the choir has sung from its beginning.

For Dr. Patrick Gorman, now in his 21st year as director, the biggest challenge may be finding space for them all in the O’Connor Center chapel. Assistant Director Glenn Schuster will accompany the anniversary choir in the concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel of the center, located at 702 S. High Point Rd.

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Dick Jones, For the Catholic Herald

Diocesan Choir holds annual Lessons & Carols Dec. 16

MADISON — With Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of the Year of Faith, the Madison Diocesan Choir’s Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center takes on greater significance and solemnity.

More than the traditional Advent prayer service celebrating in Scripture and song the Christ Child’s birth, Lessons and Carols this year offers all an opportunity to witness and affirm the good works of others throughout the diocese, as well as rediscover and renew their own relationship with Christ and the Church.

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Christina Capecchi

A short life bookended by tragedy

Guest Column

The youth choir Christina Green belonged to performs just once a month, on the second Sunday at the 9 a.m. Mass. And sure enough, the day after the nine-year-old was killed in Tucson, Ariz., the youngest victim of the shooting targeting Representative Gabrielle Giffords, St. Odilia’s youth choir sang.

It was January 9, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and there was just one Baptism at that Mass, a nine-year-old girl.

That wasn’t lost on Fr. Richard Troutman, pastor of St. Odilia Parish in Tuscon, Ariz.

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