The Cebu Clergy Performing Artists sing religious tunes and popular songs to invite parishioners to the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress. They are Fathers Kipling Agravante, Jun Gutierez, Zachary Zacarias and Rudy Ibale. (THETABLET.ORG PHOTO)
Four hundred priests will take the stage today and tomorrow to glorify God through music and songs.
The Archdiocese of Cebu will mount the concert “400 Priests of Cebu in Concert: Faith, Love, and Songs” at the Eucharistic Pavilion in Cebu City.
The event aims to help raise funds for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in January and to test the Pavilion as a venue which was opened to the public last Sunday.
“This would be an opportunity to make known our love for music and to teach the faith. I believe the public will be treated to a wonderful evening,” said Archbishop Jose Palma.
Aside from clergy members, the performers include the Mandaue Children’s Choir, Archdiocesan Seminarians of Cebu, and the grand choirs of the Basilica del Santo Niño and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Palma said he will also join the group in singing.
“It won’t be a solo performance for me because unfortunately I did not pass the audition,” he quipped.
“Seriously, I know my talent. I just have to join the choir, not solo singing. But I tell you, our priests are talented. We praise God for his goodness through the gift of music.”
The concert is directed by renowned composer and musician, Msgr. Rodolfo Villanueva who has prepared different versions of liturgical hymns and classical Cebuano songs,
“Msgr. Rudy is a genius. He chose the music for the concert,” Palma said.
Some of the hymns , will be used during the IEC in Cebu City from Jan. 24 to 31, 2016.
The concert is set at 7:30 p.m. today. Two other shows are set tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are sold at P1,000, P500, and P300 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City, and at the Pavilion.