It's time for Africa

Youth Choir from Kinshasa preparing to perform at WYD

Kinshasa – At the University of Kinshasa a group of young Catholics are praying and singing to make sure they get to Madrid this August. The group, made up of about 50 youth, is known as the Luc-Gilon choir. They belong to Notre Dame de la Sagesse Parish, the official parish of the University of Kinshasa. They are not only pilgrims, they have also been accepted as performers for the World Youth Day Cultural Festival.

For most of the group this will be their first time travelling outside Congo and August can't arrive soon enough. However, before they can pack their bags and head to the airport there is much work to be done.

Because WYD is self-financing there is no budget to pay performers so all groups, including the Luc Gilon choir, must pay their own way to Madrid and if necessary any costs associated with their assigned venue. To make sure all members of the choir can make the trip to Madrid the choir is fundraising using their greatest skill – their voices.

Luc Gilon has held several benefit concerts to raise the funds they need. They have worked hard promoting themselves as a choir for hire and when foreign dignitaries have come to visit, the government has called upon Luc Gilon to sing the national anthem at the welcome ceremony.

While they continue their fundraising efforts they also rely heavily on faith. During a recent visit by a WYD delegation to Kinshasa, the choir closed their celebration of a Mass by singing a traditional song to Mary known as “Mama Maria” asking for her intercession and help getting to Madrid.

The Luc Gilon choir is one of 255 groups that will be presenting during the WYD Cultural Festival. For more information keep watching the WYD website for a full list of performers and schedules. To help groups like the Luc Gilon Choir make it to Madrid visit muchasgracias.info to make a donation.