Kilkenny Gospel Choir are preparing for a trip to Rome later this month, where the renowned choir will perform for Pope Benedict XVI. After successful tours to New York, Washington and Boston in the past, the group have now been invited to sing at an audience with the Pope.
They leave on Sunday, September 27, and will sing for the parish of San Silvestro, the former parish of Bishop of Ossory Seamus Freeman, at their Sunday evening mass.
On the Monday the choir will sing at mass in the basilica of St Francis of Assisi and the following evening they will be hosted by the Irish ambassador to the Vatican.
On Wednesday they will have an audience with the Pope.
“While Boston, New York and DC were marvellous experiences, this visit to Rome is the highlight of our career so far,” said Mary Kealy, the choir’s PRO.
“We are grateful to Bishop Freeman and Minister John McGuinness for making the arrangements for us in Rome.”
The trip to Rome was officially launched in the Mayor’s parlour in city hall recently, with Mayor Pat Crotty and council members in attendance.
“We are very proud to represent Kilkenny in so many countries and to be part of hosting thousands of people who visit our city as choir members from around the world,” said director Fr Willie Purcell.
“The Kilkenny Gospel Choir now ranks as one of the greatest gospel choirs in the world.”
On their return from Rome the choir, who earlier this year released their third CD, ‘Somebody’s Praying’, will begin preparations to host the first ever International Gospel Choir festival in Kilkenny.
And in 2010 the choir plan to travel to Africa as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations.
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(Source: KA)