There was this moment of realization for Marie Heckroth that she was singing for Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
South Hills Catholic Academy was among 90 choirs from around the world performing at the Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on New Year’s Day at the Vatican.
“Just being there was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” said Marie, 13, of Collier.
“It was crazy that our school was a part of that. Our school was a part of bringing joy to all of those people,” said the eighth-grader at the school in Mt. Lebanon.
She and 83 choir members, academy staff and parents spent a week in Rome from Dec. 26-Jan. 2. The children sang for the pope twice and performed at three other Masses in Rome.
“I was so proud of our kids,” said Joseph Helinski, the academy’s music director.
“They musically were top notch and even more the way they held themselves at Mass and represented our region abroad.”
The Mass that surprised Helinski was held at St. Paul Outside-the-Wall Basilica on the Friday after Christmas. South Hills Catholic Academy was among 19 American choirs with about 1,000 students who sang the Mass in English.
While in Rome, Helinski was reminded by a priest that he and the choir were more than visitors at the Vatican.
“The theme on a supernatural level was as members of the body of Christ, these sites are ours to protect and cherish and use as a tool to be closer to God,” he said.
Anna Stickman, a recent academy graduate, sang a solo, the Gospel Acclamation, and seventh-grader John Poppert read the first reading of the Mass.
“South Hills Catholic had a really strong showing at the Mass,” Helinski said.
He was asked to conduct the confab of choirs for the last half of the service.
“It was like landing a plane — big gestures,” he said. “That was fun. Our students did a beautiful job.”
Harmony Stewart, principal and the head of South Hills Catholic Academy, was pleased with the choir’s role in the holiday celebrations at the Vatican.
“What an honor to be a part of and witness to these students and their gifts,” she said.
Stewart quoted Pope Francis from his formal address to the students:
“Singing and music can touch hearts, give beauty and restore zest and hope in people’s lives,” Pope Francis said. “This is what gives us joy!”
Marie Heckroth was dazzled by the pope.
“You’re seeing the highest priest of the world and not many people in their entire lives get to see that. It was an opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.
Students and adults alike were impressed by the spectacle of the basilicas.
“The interior, the mosaics were breathtaking,” Helinski said.
The art and architecture were overwhelming, but in a good way, Marie said.
“These people spent years just creating one picture that you get to look at for five minutes. And the details, it was just beautiful.”
Mary Ann Thomas: mthomas@post-gazette.com
First Published: January 10, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: January 11, 2024, 1:16 p.m.
