Trip rings their bells

The bell and voice choirs of St. Frances Cabrini will play for the pope on a January tour.

By GAIL HOLLENBECK, Times Correspondent
Published December 29, 2007

From left, Becky Grothendieck, Mary Ann Bonomett and Rose Kantor of the St. Frances Cabrini handbell choir practice Thursday for their Vatican concert trip.
	[Keri Wiginton | Times]

SPRING HILL - To most Catholics, having an audience with the pope would be a dream come true. For Michele DiLuzio, it will be that and more.

"You can't get any higher than having an audience with the pope," DiLuzio said.

DiLuzio, who directs the seven-member bell choir at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, will be part of a group from the church making a January pilgrimage to the Vatican. Her choir will provide accompaniment for the voice choir, led by Chris Berke, throughout the 13-day pilgrimage, including the papal audience.

The trip, which will include visits to numerous sites in Rome and surrounding cities, will also provide an opportunity for DiLuzio to see the home of her ancestors.

"My father's parents came from Italy, so I'll get the chance to go where my grandparents were from," she said. "My parents are in the bell choir, so it's a special treat that I'll get to travel there with them."

But for DiLuzio, 44, who also is assistant conductor of the Hernando Symphony Orchestra, the highlight will be the papal audience.

"It's hard to put into words," she said of the honor. "How many people get to say they have performed for the pope? So we're just doubly pleased about that. I'm a little nervous, but mainly excited."

Berke, 45, who has served as director of music ministries at the church for the past 10 years, arranged for the tour, which will begin Jan. 11. It will be his 11th trip to Italy and the second for the voice choir and other parishioners of St. Frances Cabrini. The choir had an audience with Pope John Paul II in 2002. Berke also has led other church groups and has taken personal trips with his wife, Phyllis, and their friends.

This year, 54 people, including choir members and other parishioners, will make the pilgrimage. Some choir members from St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church will accompany the group.

The audience with Pope Benedict XVI will be the morning of Jan. 16.

"This is part of the general audience that the pope holds every Wednesday in St. Peter's Square," Berke explained. "This time of year when it's cold, it's always inside."

During the audience, each group is announced according to what language they speak.

"When they get to English-speaking groups, they'll announce that there is a St. Frances Xavier Cabrini choir from Spring Hill, Fla., in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. At that point, we have a minute or so to sing something for the pope. The first time before Pope John Paul, we had learned a hymn in Polish, Serdeczna Matko," Berke said. "It's a hymn to Mary. It's a very famous Polish hymn. This time we're going to be singing a very short song called Christus Vincit, which is a kind of traditional acclamation."

Berke said the pope will then acknowledge the group and give a short sermon in the language of each of the groups represented.

"There are people in that room from all over the world," Berke said. "It seats up to 15,000 people. At the end, he gives a blessing and he also blesses any religious articles that people have brought that day for that purpose. It's a wonderful experience. When the pope walks in, the room is electrified. People just go crazy in there for the Holy Father."

Into the Catholic heart

The visit to the "Eternal City" is just one of the many stops scheduled for the group.

According to the itinerary for the tour, the pilgrims will "witness over 2,500 years of Roman history, 15th century churches, 17th century palaces and 20th century monuments."

The choir will sing at many of the Masses at holy sites, such as St. Peter's Basilica. During those times, accompaniment will be by the bell choir. When there is an organ available, Berke or choir member Dan Darmanin will play. Several times, the bell choir members will play a piece by themselves.

"Especially for Catholics, traveling to Rome and Italy is a wonderful experience," Berke said. "It is the heart of our faith. Everything is basically centered around the fact that St. Peter's Basilica was built exactly over the place where he is buried, so you have that long tradition. There's so much history. Rome is so old, older than even Christianity. It's the mother church for Catholics, so it's a wonderful faith-filled experience to do that."

Like DiLuzio, Berke says the highlight of the trip will be the audience with Pope Benedict.

"It will be an experience they will never forget," he said.

By the numbers 

7 Members in the bell choir at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.

13 Days, the length of the trip a group from the church is taking to the Vatican.

54 Number of people who are making the pilgrimage.

15,000 Number of people who can be seated in audience hall of St. Peter's Square.

[Last modified December 28, 2007, 20:13:38]