The National Catholic Youth Choir, directed by André Heywood, celebrates its 18th season with two appearances in the St. Cloud Diocese. The 2017 choir, comprised of 26 high school students from Minnesota and 10 other states, will sing at a prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, followed by a concert at 7:30 p.m. at the chapel.
The choir concludes its tour at the 10 a.m. Mass Sunday, June 25, at St. John’s Abbey and University Church, Collegeville.
This year’s theme, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, is “God’s Word Abides Forever.” The choir will perform selections from different eras and genres, including Gregorian Chant; “In the Beginning” by Haydn; “Sicut Cervus” by Palestrina; and “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” and songs from composers Father J. Michael Joncas, Leonard Bernstein, John Rutter and the Collegeville Composers Group.
There is no charge to attend the concerts; a free will offering will be collected to help cover some of the camp and touring costs.