By Emilie Ng
CHILDREN from a Catholic primary school on Brisbane’s east are lending their voices to a new choir to prevent “dull and unholy” singing.
The young and enthusiastic singers aged between 9 and 12 surprised the St Thomas’, Camp Hill, congregation when they sang for siblings and friends receiving their First Communion last month.
Choir member Jacob Beer said he wanted to give his brother, one of the First Communicants, a holy experience of the sacrament.
“I thought the role of being a singer was great because a church with no choir, with no voice to sing on the prayers and the readings, it’s a bit dull and unholy,” Jacob said.
“So I thought my role of singing was much more than just singing but giving more thought to things people are doing.”
Jacob was one of 18 students who accepted the invitation from parishioner Bronwyn Bell.
Ms Bell said the “youngsters” practised for seven weeks to prepare for their new ministry and gift to Communicants.
She said the congregation “broke into a spontaneous applause” at the end of Mass for the Communicants.
“The parents are so proud of them,” she said.
“My idea of it was I love singing and I love others to love singing, and I wanted to bring that to worship as well.”
Ms Bell said parishioners had not heard a children’s choir for several years.
Parish priest Fr Peter Casey said young people, like the St Thomas’ Young Parish Singers group members, could become engaged in the Mass by becoming participants.
“Not everyone can have a job but if we can encourage these young people and even their families to be available, there are positions on different liturgy rosters,” he said.
“But another is to just be here with the community, to sing, respond and pray.”
St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School principal Lorraine Walker said the partnership between the parish and school was “a great opportunity for the students to take an active role in both school and parish celebrations throughout the year”.
