February 7, 2008
Papal Visit Produces Singing Auditions, Popemobile Plans
A small item in the Washington Post's District Briefing today (which appears not to be available online from what we can tell) says that more than 550 people will compete this weekend for slots in a choir that will sing when Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass in April at the new Nationals stadium.
The Washington Archdiocese confirmed that the auditions, which begin Friday and end Monday, are being held to fill 250 slots for the papal mass choir. Sadly, for those of you who love American Idol and Catholicism, the audition spots are already filled, and were open only to adults in music ministry programs in the Washington Archdiocese and members of the Arlington Diocese choir. The Archidiocese also said the auditions likely won't be open to the public to watch. Thomas Stehle, the selected choir director who is the pastoral associate for liturgy and music at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Potomac, will be making the final selections.
In other exciting papal visit news, the Washington Archdiocese web site confirms that the popemobile will be coming out when the Pope comes to D.C.
In light of the great interest in his visit, and recognizing that not everyone will be able to attend the Mass, opportunities to see him as he travels in the pope mobile are being planned. The route has not yet been made public.Information on limited ticket availability for the Washington papal mass still has not been made public either, but news of certain popemobile sightings in April certainly makes up for that!
Photoshopping courtesy Tom Lee
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i had high hopes for my birthday plans when i heard the Popemobile would *not* be making a city-wide tour.
thanks again, Pope, for making it near impossible to celebrate my birthday with anyone needing to travel more than a block or two from me.
- a nice Jewish girl from Jersey
Two questions:
Will the Popemobile route intersect with any of the various office-to-mansion, mansion-to-vet, or office -to-vet routes already claimed by the caravan of the Dark Lord, Dick Cheney?
And if the two should collide, and subsequently destroy each other, will it restore balance to the force?