From staff reports
The Caritas Chamber Chorale will be presenting a concert series titled “Ancient Prayers for Our Time” in early June to benefit schoolchildren in Africa.
The concerts will consist of two Mass settings for chorus and string orchestra – the Mass No. 2 in G major by Austrian composer Franz Schubert and the Sunrise Mass by the contemporary Norwegian composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo. In honor of Pentecost, which is June 4, Caritas will also present the a cappella double choir piece “Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,” by the contemporary sacred music choral composer Philip W. J. Stopford.
The concert will feature guest soloists and the instrumental ensemble, Simply Strings. This repertoire, a departure for the 25-plus voice choir that typically sings unaccompanied, will explore the texts of the ordinary prayers of the Latin Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) in diverse styles.
The concert will be presented at 3 p.m. June 11 in St. Catharine Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake. The church is a worship site of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish. In addition, two additional performances will take place outside the Diocese of Trenton: 8p.m. June 9 in St. Francis Cathedral, 32 Elm Ave., Metuchen, and 7:30 p.m. June 10 in St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine St., Flemington.
A freewill offering will benefit the Gianni Diurni Primary School, run by the Adorno Fathers’ St. Francis Caracciolo Mission in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, which educates and feeds children ages 3 to 11 who might otherwise not have access to education.
The Caritas Chamber Chorale is a central New Jersey community choir composed of singers from various Christian churches. The group has been singing for the African mission since its founding in 2005 and, to date, has raised nearly $100,000.
For more information, please visit www.caritaschamberchorale.org or call 732-718-0775.