The Arts: In Brief
March 10, 2020
March 14 exhibit and lectures explore history of iconography
HOUSTON — St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church, located at 5402 Acorn St. in Houston, hosts an exhibit of contemporary and antique icons and lectures on iconography on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m.
Two lectures, held at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., will be presented by St. John Chrysostom pastor and iconographer Father Elias Rafaj and Andrew Hayes, chair of the University of St. Thomas theology department. The title of the two lectures is “Icons: Seeing the Face of God.” The Byzantine Catholic Church is one of the Eastern Catholic churches in Houston.
Another lecture is scheduled to be held on March 28 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land at 10 a.m. on “The Origins of Christian Iconography.” For more information, visit www.stjohnchrysostom.com or call 713-256-8953. †
Heights parish hosts concert to honor St. John Paul II’s birthday
HOUSTON — All Saints Catholic Church, located at 215 East 10th St. in the Heights, hosts a fine arts event to honor St. John Paul II’s 100th birthday on Sunday, March 15 at 5 p.m.
The event, called “St. John Paul II’s Poetry: Doorway to the Sacred Arts and Music,” is a collaboration between the Bravura Concert Series, Catholic Literary Arts and the Universty of St. Thomas St. John Paul II Institute.
The night will feature the poetry of St. John Paul II, as well as choral works of Arcadelt, Faure, Ramos, Gjeilo, and more performed by CREDO Sacred Vocal Ensemble. Free and open to the public.
For information, call 713-864-2653 or visit allsaintsheights.com.
Annual Pueri Cantores choir festival set for March 28
HOUSTON — Pueri Cantores, the international student choral organization of the Catholic Church, will have their annual choir festival in Houston on Saturday, March 28.
Hundreds of youth singers from grades fourth to 12th from around the Archdiocese and neighboring dioceses will join together to sing at the Saturday Vigil Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in downtown Houston beginning at 5 p.m.
The singers will join together as one combined choir to sing a liturgical music repertoire spanning 1,500 years — from Gregorian chant to music of the 21st century.
The Mass will be celebrated by Pastor Father Lawrence W. Jozwiak. The event will be conducted by Michael Bower. He serves as director of music at St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre, New York, where he leads four choral ensembles for teens and adults. He recently created the Diocesan Boys Choir of Rockville Centre and New Master Chorale 2013. Bower earned his bachelor’s degree in sacred music and organ performance from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, and his master’s degree in organ performance from Manhattan School of Music.
Pueri Cantores is an international Catholic choral organization that provides opportunities for school-aged youth choirs from all backgrounds to participate in liturgical music, aiming to enhance the lives of young singers through this musical experience conducted within a nurturing environment.
Participation in Pueri Cantores can be a formational and transformational experience through the Liturgy for both choristers and conductors. Young people of all faiths and beliefs are welcomed.
For kids to register for the festival, visit www.pcchoirs.org for more information.