Concerts in Praise of the Christ Child
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will” (Lk 2:14), sang the Angels when proclaiming the birth of Jesus two thousand years ago. On the eve of Christmas 2022, the Heralds of the Gospel joined their voices to those of the heavenly hosts to praise the Christ Child. They did not, however, do this only before their own Manger Scene… In this edition we highlight some of the countless concerts performed by choirs and orchestras of the institution in several cities throughout the world.
In Europe, carols in honour of the newborn Jesus echoed in the historic Cathedral of Toledo, Spain, in the presence of Metropolitan Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves, and in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, in Madrid, with Archbishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza, the Apostolic Nuncio. In the neighbouring Portuguese nation, concerts took place at the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, at the Cathedral of Porto and at Holy Cross Church in Braga.
Chords of jubilation and vivacity also resounded in Africa, in the concert held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, in Maputo, Mozambique.
Moving on to the Americas, the festive harmonies of Christmas were heard at the Majadas Forum Event Centre, in Guatemala, where two thousand people gathered to honour the Child Jesus together with Auxiliary Bishop Tulio Omar Pérez Rivera; in the El Salvadorian city of Nuevo Cuscatlán; at the Presidential House of Costa Rica, in the presence of the Head of State and the First Lady; as well as the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, in Tocancipá, and the Oratory of the Mother of Good Counsel, in Medellin, Colombia. Several Christmas performances also brightened hearts in Paraguay: at the Cathedral of St. Clare, in Villarica; at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in Caacupé, Paraguay; in the auditorium of Paseo La Galería Shopping Mall and at the Senate Chamber of the Paraguayan Captial, Asunción.
In Brazil, worthy of special mention were the musical performances by the choir and orchestra of the Heralds’ female sector, held at Immaculate Mary Parish, at the Military Chaplaincy known as the Soldiers’ Oratory, and at the institution’s house in Brasilia.
Consecrations to Our Lady
In November, new ceremonies of consecration to Jesus through Mary were carried out in Spain, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. The preparatory course, in Spanish, was given by Fr. Manuel Rodríguez Sancho, EP, through the Reconquest Catholic Formation Platform of the Heralds of the Gospel. Many members of the faithful in Portugal also consecrated themselves to the Blessed Virgin after participating in the classes given, in Portuguese, by Fr. Ricardo José Basso, EP, on the same formation platformon, which also offers the course in English.
