Archdiocese to sponsor IEC fund-raising concert

The Cebu Archdiocese of Cebu will spearhead a concert dubbed as “400 Priests of Cebu in Concert: Faith, Love, and Songs” tomorrow and Friday at the Eucharistic Pavilion in Cebu City.

The event was organized by the local church to help raise funds for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) and to test the Pavilion which was opened to the public for the first time 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 in an interview.

Aside from members of the clergy, also scheduled to perform are 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 perform during the concert although he needs to join the group in singing. “It won’t be a solo performance for me because unfortunately I did not pass the audition,” the archbishop 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,” he added.

The concert is under the direction of renowned composer and musician, Msgr. Rodolfo Villanueva.

Among the hymns to be sung during the concert are the different renditions of liturgical songs and some classical Cebuano songs. “Msgr. Rudy is a genius. It was him who chose the kinds of music that will be used during the concert,” Palma said.

Some of the hymns in the concert, he said, will be used during the IEC which will be held in Cebu City from Jan. 24 to 31, 2016. The concert is set at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 26. Two other shows will be staged on Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are sold at P1,000, P500, and P300 and are available at the CebU Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City, and at the Pavilion.