Seeking members: Diocesan choir to sing for centennial celebration
Globe staff report
Posted April 25, 2002

A call is going out for 200 vocalists to participate in a special choir for the centennial Mass of the Diocese of Sioux City on June 16 at the Sioux City Auditorium.

Matthew J. Geerlings, director of music and liturgy at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, said he hopes to have singers from all 124 parishes for the celebration.

Geerlings said there will be no auditions, but there will be rehearsals.

"We want people who can sing and attend rehearsals," Geerlings said.

The rehearsals are scheduled to take place at St. Mary's in Storm Lake and at the cathedral.

The two-hour Storm Lake rehearsals are scheduled for May 23 and June 6 at 6:30 p.m. And rehearsals at the cathedral are scheduled for May 23 and June 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Geerlings said attendance at one of the rehearsals is mandatory.

He said the two choirs will rehearse as one on the day of the celebration, which is expected be attended by more than 6,000 people.

Father Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will be the main celebrant and homilist for the Mass.

Geerlings said a small brass ensemble and organist will participate with the choir.

The Mass will feature international music, reflecting the multi-cultural make up of the diocese, including a hymn from South Africa that will be sung in Swahili, and a bilingual Spanish-English hymn.

A centennial hymn will also be performed. It was composed by a New York monk, Brother Howard Hughes.

Geerlings said the cutoff date to sign up for the choir is May 17. Interested vocalists can register with him at the cathedral at (712) 255-1637.