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Detroit Catholic Choir Invited To Sing For Pope At Vatican

DETROIT (AP) - A Catholic choir from Detroit has been asked to sing before Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The Archdiocesan Chorus of Detroit has been invited to sing during a Jan. 5, 2016, Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. It's part of the Catholic feast day of the Epiphany, which marks the visitation of the three wise men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

Chorus director Joe Balistreri tells the Detroit Free Press it's particularly exciting because the choir represents the entire 1.3 million-member archdiocese. He it's "a big honor" and "humbling."

The chorus has about 40 members ages 17 to 80. It had already planned a trip to Rome in January and had applied to sing at one of several Masses held daily at St. Peter's.

 
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