The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation, Music Ministry is planning events on Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17.
On Nov. 16, a Diocesan Choir Festival will start at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joachim Parish in Bellmawr, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Camden, and including special guests Jaime Cortez and Pedro Rubalcava, both from Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) publications.
Cortez is a composer, arranger and performer, with many years of presenting workshops for teachers and youth, on bilingual liturgy and music.
Rubalcava is a composer, vocalist, musician, and director of the Hispanic Ministry Office for OCP. For more than 30 years, he has been directing liturgical music groups, and for the past 26 years has worked in professional pastoral ministries in such areas as evangelization, youth and young adult ministry and RCIA.
There is free admission to the festival.
On Nov. 17, Christ Our Light Parish in Cherry Hill will be the site of a Diocesan Day of Formation for Pastoral Musicians.
Celebrating the year of faith, the day will bring together parish music directors, choir directors and members, vocalists, cantors, and musicians, to renew and strengthen their faith and music ministry; meet and share with other pastoral musicians; pray and worship together; and obtain new skills and techniques for music ministry.
Jaime Cortez and Pedro Rubalcava, will also be present, and share their gifts with the pastoral musicians of the diocese.
Cost for the day of formation is $20 per person, and parishes with more than 12 participants registered, will pay $15 per person.
For more information on the Diocesan Choir Festival, or Day of Formation for pastoral musicians, contact Damaris Thillet, director of Music Ministry, dthillet@camdendiocese.org, or 856-583-6172.