Brother Rice, Mother McAuley Choirs Sing at Vatican

The Brother Rice and Mother McAuley High School choirs are having the experience of a lifetime singing for Pope Francis at the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.

The student singers departed for Rome and Vatican City on Dec. 26 for the the official student choral organization of the Catholic Church.

Mother McAuley choir members sing as they march up to St. Peter’s.

The Brother Rice and Mother McAuley choirs joined more than 5,000 singers, with 2,000 from the United States, including boys and girls from fourth through twelfth grades.

The Mother McAuley choir was the only group from the American Federation of Pueri Cantores to sing at the Concert of Hope at the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli.

The Congress is held every five years. The 2015- 2016 theme for the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores is “Cantate spem vestram!” (Sing out your hope!)

Both choirs sang at several locations around Rome and Vatican City, and will participate in a Carols from Around the World Christmas celebration on Dec. 31.

The International Congress will conclude its pilgrimage Jan. 1 with the World Peace Day Papal Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Several thousand youth will sing in the liturgy celebrated by Pope Francis, joining together in song to sing PEACE into the New Year, along with the Sistine Chapel Choir.

The Chicago high school choirs will return home on Jan. 2.