I used to think I was the

-- luckiest person alive --

SINGING IN THE

THE GOSPEL CHOIR AT

SAINT BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH

 in the Hill District of PITTSBURGH, PA

Singing gospel music in the magnificent gothic structure of the St. Benedict the Moor Church was a dream come true. I had wanted to sing gospel since I was a teenager.

I grew up in Homestead, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, and was lucky to live in a very ‘mixed’ community. My friends and school mates were descendants of Russian, German, English, Irish, Serbian, Jewish, African American and Polish families.

My family was of Irish-English-German origin and everyone in the family sang and danced. Our most fun times were standing around a player piano and singing harmony. We had trouble finding someone to sing the lead part. Singing was always a great joy to me. Sometimes I would think (and/or wish) I had been a black person in another lifetime, because black music (blues and gospel) was my favorite. It was 1955, and the Penguins introduced their song, Earth Angel, on radio and black music began to roll side by side with the white rock and roll of the time. 

My dad knew the warden of the Western Penitentiary and he invited us to their choir’s Easter celebration. I was a teenager and in awe of the prison and sounds and images. When we entered the great clanging front gate and the door slammed behind me, I realized the overwhelming fear that must beset prisoners. The warden led us to a small chapel and brought us to front seats. He sat right next to me. When the chapel doors swung open and the prisoners marched down the center aisle into the chapel with arms swinging and voices lifted to God, I was totally at home.

In the 60's when Reverend Martin Luther King was heading the peace marches in the south, I was working with the South Hills Association for Racial Equality (SHARE).  Racial equality was a given for me. I couldn't understand people who believed in a caring, loving God thinking that any race was superior to another. It was a turbulent time for blacks and for the whites who believed that the color or a person's skin was not a deciding factor in their worth, intelligence or abilities.  The differences in color, culture, music, dance, foods and background were what made life more interesting. I said then and still say, "Viva La Difference."   

Many years later I decided to find a black gospel choir that would accept little old ‘white’ me, I put out the word to everyone I met. Finally, while attending the ‘Smokey City Folk Festival' in Pittsburgh, PA, someone told me about the church that sat at the base of the Hill District overlooking the Civic Arena.

The first week I went to the Saint Benedict the Moor Church, I just sat back and listened to the glorious voices and harmonies of the choir. The week went by slowly but the second time I entered the church, I went straight back to the choir area. A kindly lady, dressed in beautiful brown and tan choir robe, was sitting in one of the end seats. When I told her of my desire to sing with their choir, she stood up, threw her arms around me and welcomed me. That Wednesday, I went to rehearsal. I was introduced by the choir director, Don Atkinson, and received a round of applause. I had never felt so welcome anywhere in my life.

In 1989 the Saint Benedict the Moor Choir traveled to Rome, Italy, and we sang for Pope John Paul II.  Being in the presence of the pope we KNEW he was a saint.  His warmth and kindness overwhelmed us and we sang like angels. I was honored to sing a solo at the All Saints Day Mass.

We sang at many cathedrals in Rome and sang Vespers for the priests at the College of Cardinals in Rome.

From there, we traveled north to Assisi, the home of Saint Francis. Singing Mass for the Franciscan Monks was one of the highlights of our tour.  In my book, Zoe Lucky and the Green Gables' Mystery, you see Zoe's connection to the Patron Saint of Birds and Animals.

Some day I'll write about Don Atkinson, our incredibly talented and beloved choir director -- but not today.  I will remember his smiling face and keep him in my prayers.  Thank You God for giving us Don Atkinson.

Saint Benedict the Moor Catholic Church is an African-American community that celebrates the Gospel of Christ by welcoming the stranger among us. This unity in diversity is seen in the different traditions, cultures, and songs, which the Lord has given us. This variety reminds the Church that God's kingdom is like a banquet: a festive gathering for all people of every race and color--a table at which the lonely find company, the hungry savor rich foods and fine wine and strangers enjoy warm family ties. Jesus calls us to build this kingdom here on earth.

Building community is the result of a living dialogue between the culture of the people and the Word of God. At our church this dialogue is dynamic rather than static.

At Saint Benedict the Moor we have the following ministries: Christian Mothers and the Women's Guild, Gospel Choir; Traditional Choir; Altar Servers, Sunday School Teachers, Bereavement Ministry, Coffee Hour; Health Ministry, Lectors, Greeters, Eucharistic Ministers, and Youth Ministry. The task of these, along with the Pastoral Council, is to build one community through fellowship as we understand the differences between the cultures and bring them together. This enables us to echo the person of Christ into our lives. In other words, the ministries of the parish are a support to inculturate the Gospel into the community . The goal at our Church is to help people to live their lives in greater fidelity to Christ and to see their lives expressing care to one another.

At Saint Benedict the Moor Church, we celebrate the warm religious experience of our African heritage here in America.