Eric Bermani, director of the Saint Anselm College Choir, was invited to sing at a Papal liturgy with Pope Francis on Sunday Nov. 20 and will also have the opportunity to sing at a Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday Nov. 15. In addition to directing the Saint Anselm Choir, Bermani is the Diocesan and Cathedral Director of Music. It is through these positions Bermani was invited with the Cathedral of Saint Joseph choir and Diocesan Festival Choir to sing at these events. Bermani explains the process of how he was able to be a part of such an amazing opportunity.

Bermani told The Crier, “I had received a phone call during Holy Week, 2015, from a woman named Dawn who was calling me from CTS travel asking me if the Cathedral choirs and I wanted to sing at a Papal liturgy with Pope Francis. I had initially thought it was a joke being played on me by a colleague — who on earth would call a church musician during Holy Week presenting such a momentous question? — and, thankfully, was able to quickly determine its authenticity.”

It was then that Bermani learned that “someone in the Vatican made a decision that the choir for the Solemnity of Christ the King and for the Closing of the Jubilee Year of Mercy would be comprised of choristers from the US and the numbers would be capped at 300”.

This was surprising and exciting news that the U.S would be represented at such a prestigious event. However, the 300 choirs could be picked from anywhere in the U.S. Who would have thought a choir in little New Hampshire could have been picked? Yet it was due to this cap in numbers that a small choir such as Bermani would be a perfect fit for the event. After receiving the phone call of the invitation, Bermani comments on how he felt about such a monumental opportunity.

Bremen also said, “I fielded the question to the choirs and they immediately responded with ‘of course!’. So, on Monday, I’m leading 32 choristers and 22 pilgrims to Rome for pilgrimage.  It’s truly an amazing honor for the Cathedral Choir and for the diocese.  We are the only choir from New England along with a second choir from Florida that will be representing the Eastern part of the US.”

While Bermani comments their schedule will be busy, he also notes some of the amazing opportunities they will be a part of saying  “The Cathedral Choir and DFC will be singing alone at the 5:00 p.m. Italian Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and I’ve been honored to be named the organist at this Mass.  So, the choirs get to experience two different liturgies at St. Peter’s Basilica: one, a daily Mass celebrated inside the Basilica behind the Great Altar and two, a Papal liturgy with 300 other choristers celebrated in Saint Peter’s square.”

Bermani also comments that the Papal Mass was set to be inside but was moved outside due to overwhelming expected attendance of people.

Bermani further explains the significance of this event saying, “Moving the liturgy outside to the square has made it a historic event because it will mark the first time a visiting, massed choir will join the Sistine Chapel Choir in singing a Papal liturgy in the square.  Visiting, massed choirs have joined the Sistine Chapel Choir numerous times for Papal liturgies but those liturgies have been celebrated inside the Basilica, making it historic.”

Although it appears as though this event will be historic and will truly be a once in a life time experience Bermani expressed much anticipation of the wonderful other events these two choirs will get to do in the future.