1 minute read
Our Children’s Choir: Sharing Talents and Praying Through Song
We might not immediately think of young children and teens as members of a ministry, filling a role in our weekly Mass celebrations. But at St. Vincent de Paul, children and teens in third to eighth grade are welcome to sing in the Children’s Choir, with Director of Liturgy and Music Kevin Keil leading them.
In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” In turn, it is particularly important to hear our youngest members sing for the glory of God. Kevin says this choir is not just filling a role at Mass — the children and teens are preparing for future ministry involvement in the church. In his 46 years of directing — four of these at our parish — he has seen choir members go on to become priests, cantors and music directors.
Advertisement
“I get great energy and enthusiasm from the children,” Kevin says. “I like to think I had a small part in their embracing ministry.”
The Children’s Choir usually consists of about 10 to 15 members, and they sing four times each year — Thanksgiving Day, the Christmas Concert, Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. They practice on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m.
Kevin enjoys seeing the children and teens build on their music skills, share their musical talents and learn about being a music minister. He composes his own songs and listening to the children perform those is what he enjoys most. “Sing Hallelujah to the Newborn King” is his favorite.
“The children have a joy in their voices that can be infectious,” Kevin says.
When the choir members have truly mastered a song, Kevin enjoys listening and he knows it’s a joy for the congregation. Importantly, Kevin also reminds them they are not there to perform, but to lead the congregation in song.
