The Pope and The Priests

Matthew Harrison

September 23, 2010
I remember speaking to Fr. David or Fr. Martin of The Priests sometime last year about the 2012 Eucharistic Congress that would be held in Ireland.  I was wondering out loud if Pope Benedict might visit the Emerald Isle for the event, and if the The Priests might be participating in some capacity.  They were of course hopeful the Holy Father would attend, and they were also hopeful that if he did attend that they would have the opportunity to sing Panis Angelicus in his presence.
The_Priests_Abbey_Road_20_mediumWell, The Priests got their wish this past weekend -- just in a different location, and two years early!
The classical singing trio performed Panis Angelicus before 80,000 pilgrims and one Holy Father at the Hyde Park evening prayer vigil in honour of Cardinal Newman.  The vigil was of course in anticipation of Newman's Beatificaiton Mass the Holy Father celebrated the next day in Birmingham.
I couldn't help but smile to myself thinking of our conversation several months earlier!  Hopefully they'll have the opportunity to repeat the performance in two years!
I should also note that for the third year in a row The Priests will be offering us a new album this fall.  On November 2nd, their new Christmas album, NOËL, will be released in North America.  We'll keep you posted.