>Mount Carmel’s choir conquers Italy
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2011
BY GLORIA GEANNETTE
MANAGING EDITOR
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Choir members from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood have just fulfilled what for many had been a lifelong musical and spiritual dream when they sang at a Vatican Mass in July. And it wasn’t just any Mass – they actually sang a Sunday Mass at the second most important of St. Peter’s 29 altars, in an area not normally open to tourists.
The dream trip started with two choir members, Clare Jordan and Margaret Mullen, who thought a “road trip” to Italy would be just the thing for their group. They had both been to Italy before and wanted to share the food, sights and culture with their choir friends. Their thought was to give guest performances in two churches – one in Florence and one in Venice – with plenty of sightseeing in between.
At first, that seemed enough of a trip, but then Director of Music Peter Sicko decided to write a letter to the Vatican requesting the opportunity to sing at a Mass. With help from Msgr. Ronald Rozniak (Father Ron), Sicko composed what must have been a compelling letter, because the request was approved.
“We had asked for a relatively minor Mass on a Saturday evening,” recalled Sicko, who is still overwhelmed by what they actually accomplished. Along with Connie Arcilla, the choir’s conductor, he worked hard to prepare the group for their once-in-a-lifetime performance.
https://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/127571093_Mount_Carmel_s_choir_conquers_Italy.html
