HUNTLEY—How can you celebrate the beginning of a new liturgical year, mark Advent, give thanks, share talent, celebrate Christ and focus on the hope and joy of Christmas?

 

Gather together for a concert of heavenly music, that’s how.

 

And that heavenly music will be shared Dec. 13 at the first Diocesan Chorale Advent Concert inside St. Mary Parish at 7 p.m.

 

The first-of-its-kind concert is an idea born between Claudia Broman director of the diocesan Office of Charitable Giving and Father Jonathan Bakkelund, director of the Office for Divine Worship last summer.

 

“Father Bakkelund and I talked about ways we could share the talents of our diocesan chorale with others, and we decided on a concert, inspired by similar events held across the country. Since Advent marks the beginning of our liturgical year, when we festively focus on hope and joy as we wait for the birth of Jesus, it seemed like a great time to anticipate the grace of Christmas and gather people together for a concert,” Broman told The Observer.

 

The public is invited to this free concert. 

 

Broman explained that “in large part, this free concert is being held to say thank you to the many parishioners across the Diocese of Rockford who support our diocesan ministries, whether that be through prayer, volunteer work, or gifts made through our annual diocesan appeal.”

 

Broman said that many people have come together to help make this concert a reality, including the staff at St. Mary’s in Huntley, the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary Parish in Huntley, and other diocesan personnel. Daniel Schroeder from St. Peter Church, Geneva is music director for the concert and Char Schiller from St. Mary Parish in Huntley is organist.