CHULA VISTA — St. Pius X Parish is hosting a “Chant Camp” this summer to introduce Catholic youth to the beauty and richness of Gregorian Chant.
The camp, which is open to youth ages 7 to 17, will be presented by Mary Ann Carr-Wilson of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship. It will run from July 8-12 in the parish hall, with a 9 a.m.-2 p.m. daily schedule filled with activities. It will culminate with a sung Mass by the children at 10 a.m., Sunday, July 14.
Carr-Wilson spent several years as choir director at St. Anne Parish in San Diego and has appeared as a soloist with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Master Chorale. She will instruct the children in the ancient art of singing Gregorian chant. Participants will grow in musical skill and come away with an understanding that singing at Mass is a form of prayer, not performance, and can help lead others closer to God.
St. Pius X Parish’s associate pastor, Father Corey Tufford, said it “seems providential” that St. Pius X Parish is hosting this event because the parish’s namesake, who was pope from 1903-1914, wrote about the guiding principles of sacred music.
“Even if our students do not sing exclusively Gregorian Chant in the future,” he said, “they will have benefited from this opportunity to grow in their understanding of what it means to provide sacred music for liturgical celebrations.”
He described this as “a win for us all.”
The cost to attend the upcoming Chant Camp is $85 per child. For more information or to register, visit
https://www.saintpiusx.org/88, email evangelization @saintpiusx.org or call (619) 420-9193.
