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06/30/2007
Choir Goes On The RoadChrist the King group to sing at VaticanIf the singing at Christ the King Catholic Church sounds a little off key Sunday, it's due to the absence of the choir. On Tuesday, 18 members of the Acme church choir along with 34 parishioners left Traverse City for a 10-day singing tour through Italy that culminates with a performance at the Vatican and an audience with Pope Benedict XVI before they return home. In addition to the stop in Rome, the choir is performing selections of sacred music at several churches in Italy including the St. Francis and St. Clare basilicas in Assisi, the Basilica di San Lorenzo and the Basilica di Santa Croce in F ence and Santa Stefano Dei Cavalieri in Pisa. According to Christ the King music director Mark Tafelsky, the trip has been in the works since the summer of 2005, when he learned of the choral touring opportunity while attending a National Pastoral Musicians conference. During the process of arranging the choral pilgrimage with Classic Choir Tours, Tafelsky submitted a tape from a Christmas concert the choir produced as a fundraiser. The tape won the attention of the Vatican and scheduled the choir to perform for a noon Mass on July 3 in St. Peter's Basilica. 
Bob La Belle rehearses with the Christ the King Parish Choir during their last rehearsal before departing for Italy. "It is an honor,” Tafelsky said. "Not every group who goes gets to sing there.” The group also is looking forward to a reunion with an old friend while they are in Rome. The parishioners plan to meet up with former church member, the Rev. Fr. Daniel Gallagher, who is currently stationed at the Vatican. The son of Bernie and Pat Gallagher of Traverse City, Gallagher attended seminary at North American College in Rome and the Gregorian University at the Vatican. Currently he is a member of the English-speaking division of the Secretariat of State, a department of the Roman Catholic Church that closely assists the pontiff in church matters. Gallagher serves on a team of priests who arrange the Holy Father's schedule, provide him with English interpreters and make announcements in English during Masses. The choir will perform during a private service for the seminarians at North American College on July 4. The Rev. Fr. Gerald Michetti, pastor at Christ the King, and Gallagher will preside. Following the Mass, the group will have its meeting with Pope Benedict. The Vatican trip is a first for most of the travelers, and Tafelsky has taken pains to make their performances memorable by arranging a 12-piece repertoire of sacred music for the tour. They will present a selection of hymn arrangements including "Hush,” an African-American piece, "Ave Verum” by Edward Elgar and "The Lord's Prayer.” They also will offer a presentation of "Ubi Caritas” sung in Latin. The choir plans to head back to Traverse City on July 5. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Tafelsky said. "We're still in awe.” Reach Gretchen Murray at 933-1490 or gmurray@record-eagle.com.
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By Gretchen Murray
