The Canadian Pontifical College (CPC) in Rome, founded by the Sulpicians in 1888, inaugurated its 125th anniversary year with a concert presided over by Cardinal Thomas C. Collins, Archbishop of Toronto and presented at Chiesa Santi-Martiri Canadesi in Rome (The Church of the Canadian Martyrs).
The concert was given by the nearly two hundred-member choir from Saint Michael’s Choir School of Toronto, which was founded seventy-five years ago by Msgr John Edward RONAN, a former student at the CPC. The members of the choir range from grades 5 through 12, subdivided into a Junior and Senior Choir, with several young soloists performing piano and violin pieces to supplement the choral selections. All students at the Choir School study piano as well as voice, and the concert displayed their expansive talent with ease.
Father Eric SYLVESTRE, pss, currently the Rector of the CPC and also General Procurator for the Society of Saint Sulpice, opened the program with words of welcome and introductions of several guests of honor. Among the special guests was Cardinal Marc OUELLET, pss, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Council for Latin America, Mgr Emilius GOULET, pss, Archbishop Emeritus of Saint Boniface, Father Ronald D. WITHERUP, pss, Superior General of the Sulpicians, and several distinguished civil leaders from Canada, including the ambassador to Italy.
This anniversary year for the CPC will include several other programs, lectures, and concerts scattered throughout the rest of 2013 and extending into 2014. A new history of the CPC---The Pontifical Canadian College: An Enduring Tradition. 125 Years of History---will also be published and will be presented to the public by Professor John ZUCCHI of McGill University on 28 February 2014 at Maria SS. Bambina Institute in Rome.
Cardinal Collins will preside at a solemn Eucharistic liturgy at Santa Maria in Vallicella (Chiesa Nuova) in Rome at 19h 00 on 21 November 2013, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, the patronal feast of the Society of Saint Sulpice. The Venerabile Cappella Giulia will provide music for the liturgy.
All the confreres of the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice extend warmest congratulations to Father Sylvestre and the entire CPC community, as well as to the Canadian Province, on the occasion of this anniversary.
Some pictures follow:
