After a shortened school day, 25 Mary Immaculate Catholic School choir students in Farmers Branch will fly to Rome to perform at the Vatican and outside its walls.
Rehearsal Before the Break
The school day ended early for Christmas Break, but choir students headed to the choir room for one last rehearsal with director Jamie Bottomley. “One, two, ready, go,” Bottomly said as she directed her students, stopping to correct them from time to time.
Dreaming of Rome
“I’ve always wanted to travel with my choir, but I’ve never gotten the chance to,” 6th‑grader Mille Grobe said. In the fall, Pastoral Administrator Alfonse Nazzaro began working on plans to get the choir to the Vatican during the Jubilee, which occurs every 25 years. “When the Cardinals came together and elected an American pope, well, ok, lets go for it, lets go for Rome,” Nazzaro said. “Let’s see if we can sing for the Holy Father.”
The Journey
After Christmas, the select choir will board planes bound for Rome, Italy. The trip was paid for by fundraising and generous donations. The choir will perform around the Nativity when Pope Leo blesses it, and Nazzaro believes the odds are better than 50/50 that the Pope will hear them.
Anticipated Performance
“I’m just surprised because I can’t believe Father managed to do this,” 7th‑grader Eliana Aguilar said. “He just kept asking, and here we are; we’re going to go to Rome!” Nazzaro added, “I wanted the children to see that if you have a goal, if you have a dream, then just go for it.” Grobe echoed the sentiment: “I really hope that he thinks like, wow! There’s some good choirs in America,”. Aguilar reflected, “You’re gonna probably tell your kids about it, and they’re gonna be like, wow! You went to Rome. It makes me feel like God wanted me to go to this choir and sing.”
Key Takeaways
- 25 Mary Immaculate choir students will fly to Rome after Christmas to perform at the Vatican.
- The trip is funded through fundraising and donations, and the choir will sing during the Nativity when Pope Leo blesses it.
- Students and staff express excitement and hope that their performance will inspire others and reach the Pope.
The Mary Immaculate Catholic School Select Choir’s journey to Rome marks a significant milestone for the students and the school community, showcasing the power of music, faith, and determination.
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