Youth choir evangelizes!
area students selected to perform
Collegeville, MN. - The National Catholic Youth Choir of Saint John’s Abbey and University is performing an inspirational concert titled "Death and New Life" at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 605 N. State Street, in New Ulm on Tuesday, June 19th, 7:30 p.m. The choir is also joining forces with the Minnesota All-State Lutheran choir to present an ecumenical hymnfest of hymns for congregation, choir, organ, and brass, "Darkness and Light," at Saint John’s Abbey Church on Wednesday, June 20th, at 8:00 pm. Announcers for the hymnfest are Abbot Timothy Kelly, O.S.B., of Saint John’s Abbey, and Bishop Stanley N. Olson of the Southwestern Minnesota Lutheran Synod. A free will offering will be received at each event. The choir is also presenting a benefit concert with Archbishop Flynn for Mary Jo Copeland’s "Sharing and Caring Hands" at Saint Paul Cathedral on Friday, June 22, 8:00 pm. Suggested donation: $15, and for those under 18, $8.
The National Catholic Youth Choir brings over 50 auditioned high school youth from across the entire U.S. to Saint John’s each summer for over two weeks of rigorous daily music rehearsal, classes in music and religion, daily prayer and worship, and sports and recreation. The choir sings classical masterpieces of sacred music from Gregorian chant to the 20th century. The conductor of the choir is Dr. Axel Theimer of the music department of Saint John’s University and the Collegeville of Saint Benedict. The choir was founded in 1999 by Father Anthony Ruff, O.S.B., a monk of Saint John’s Abbey originally from Sacred Heart parish in Franklin. Father Ruff serves as chaplain to the choir, and he notes that the choir’s purpose is expressed in its motto, "Spreading the Catholic Faith Through Great Music."
Youth from the New Ulm diocese singing in the choir this summer include: Daniel Moldan of Lamberton, Joshua Norman of Sleepy Eye, Ben Rohlik of Sanborn, and Kimberly Sondag of New Ulm.
The 2001 program of the choir includes a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to sing for the U.S. Catholic bishops at their annual meeting. Each summer a CD recording of the choir is made; the CD "Doxology" from 2000 is available for $15.
For further information on the choir’s performances, purchasing the CD, or participating in the choir in the future, contact Father Ruff at 320-363-3233 awruff@csbsju.edu.