Photos by Deirdre McQuade/D McQuade Studios
Following the Mass of the Americas, celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in November, the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art hosted a post-Mass reception and The Mass of Americas: After Conference at Catholic University.
The Mass of the Americas is a newly composed multilingual Mass in the sacred music tradition of the Catholic Church, and a tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass of the Americas: After Conference was held to inspire future artists, composers, poets, and painters. It included a keynote conversation with composer Frank La Rocca; conductor Richard Sparks; and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, of San Francisco. The conversation was moderated by Jacqueline Leary-Warsaw, dean of the Rome School.
Workshops featured poets, a master class for CatholicU students with Sparks, and a painting workshop. Timothy McDonnell, head of sacred music and director of choral studies, conducted the Gregorian chant propers of the Mass, and his choir participated in the master class. An evening conversation with artists and philosophers included Sara Pecknold, clinical professor of sacred music.