Benedictine sisters in Missouri have released a CD for Christmas. Proceeds will go towards a new priory church, as the one they are using is becoming too small.
The prioress of the community, Mother Cecelia, said five years ago there were 18 sisters in the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles community.
Now that number has climbed to 31. It includes four new postulants who joined the order this week. Another two are due to join next year.
The community is multicultural, with sisters coming from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the United States.
This diversity is reflected in the choice of songs included in the album, which is called Caroling at Ephesus.
Although most are in English, there are “two in Latin, and one each in German, French, Polish and Spanish.
“Along with a little help from my mother, who is Polish by birth, there are enough speakers here of each language now to guide us through the pronunciation,” Cecelia said.
“While Latin is easy (we chant in Latin everyday) the others certainly added a challenge to the recording,” she said.
The carols include old favourites like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Holy Night, and O Come All Ye Faithful as well as a Christmas poem written by G.K. Chesterton.
Called “Carol of the Christ Child”, the sisters set the poem to music themselves.
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