This week's blessing is one that has come up before: The Chorister Academy at St. John's Church in Waterbury, Connecticut. This group of young people includes students from second through tenth grade who come from all over the city. All the kids come from hard-working families, though none is well-off financially. Twice a week this diverse group of kids meet for hours at a time to learn to read music and to sing some pretty challenging hymns. The group is constantly in flux. Kids come and go, so the group is always starting over as it tries to advance.

The program is free to these kids. They have only to want to be there, to participate, and to sing in church twice a month as well as on special occasions.

Through the Academy, St. John's does what a church should do. It helps these kids find the essential beauty within themselves, to make the most of it, and to give it all away in the name of Love.

The choristers sang the very beautiful and poignant "Lenten Love Song" on Maundy Thursday. My daughter wrote the lyrics for me from memory on Friday morning. (The last two lines are her phonetic Latin.) It is a profound story of sincere friendship.

Now Jesus went into the garden,
The garden of Gethsemane.
He went there sad and very weary
To be alone to pray.
"Dear God, I am so sorrowful,
Is there no other way?
Dear God, if there is,
Please let this cup pass away."

Now Jesus went into the garden,
The Garden of Gethsemane.
The olive tree bent over him
And heard him sadly pray.
"Dear God, your Son is sorrowful
But knows your way is best.
Let love take hold of me.
Help me to be bold and free
To do your will, to do your will,
To do your will and rest."

Ubi caritas, et amor,
Ubi caritas, ade oo sibe est.

The podcast below is a recording of their gift. God bless.


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