Parish children's choir helps youngsters connect to their faith

Published: 2006-04-17

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- The children's choir at St. Didacus Parish in San Diego is not only inspiring the children of the parish and delighting adult parishioners, but it also is an invaluable resource in the faith development of its young members, according to parish leaders. Formed in September 2004, the choir is made up of children in the fourth through eighth grades, and provides the music at the 10 a.m. Mass on the first Sunday of each month. "It's amazing to be presiding -- and I would assume the same is true (for) a person in the pews - whenever the children are leading the assembly in song," said Father Michael Baumgardner, pastor of St. Didacus Parish until early February. According to Father Baumgardner, the children's choir has successfully challenged "the illusion" that the Mass is something "done to us and for us" by priests, lectors and extraordinary ministers of Communion and shown that it is the communal worship of the church in which all Catholics are called to participate.

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