First 9:30 am Sunday English Mass Choir

Singing Psalm 23 by Ferdz Bautista 

(Note: All photos courtesy of Boyet Sumatra)

The school choir has already rendered musical services in some Eucharistic celebrations namely this year's baccalaureate mass, founding anniversary of DepEd-Zamboanga Sibugay Division Office thanksgiving mass and mass at the Division Office commemorating the 2012 World Teachers' Day. From these, I have become confident that they can be as good as regular choir at St. Joseph's Cathedral of the Ipil Diocese. Indeed, this morning, the school choir sang solemnly during the first ever 9:30 am English Mass. We sang the mass proper using the new English text, all of Dan Schutte's Mass of Christ the Savior, Revised. We also sang Ferdinand Bautista's Psalm 23. Bishop Julius Tonel celebrated the mass. During his homily, he recognized the choir as a "new" group in the church. He jokingly called me "Fr. Darwin." The Local Government of Ipil, headed by Mayor Eldwin Alibutdan, who attended the mass, sponsored the Eucharistic celebration. It is my prayer that we would be able to sustain this ministry. This activity surely brings the kids closer to God through singing sacred hymns in the house of the Lord. 

Bishop Tonel stands in front of  the Altar during the
offertory procession, as the choir sings "All Good Gifts."