St. Louis Choir Visits the Mount

Members of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Choir Camp, from the St. Francis DeSales Oratory in St. Louis, returned to the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center the week of Aug. 6-10, 2018, for their ninth year of music camp. On Aug. 9, the members performed for the Ursuline Sisters in Saint Joseph Villa. Afterward, the students visited individually with the sisters in the audience. The camp ends with Mass on Aug. 10. Here are photos from Aug. 9.

 

Members of the choir sing a “Sanctus” for the Ursuline Sisters. Youths from 9-18 can participate in the camp to learn church music, and members come from all over the country.
The students perform their songs in Latin, after spending the week learning vocal technique.
Nick Botkins, the musical director at the St. Francis DeSales Oratory and the camp director, smiles as he tries to organize the students for their next song. Botkins brought the camp to the Mount for the first time in 2010 because he regularly attended Music Camp at Maple Mount as a teenager.
The sisters were asked to join in singing “Salve Regina” in Latin to end the performance, and they were happy to do so. Singing here, from right, are Sisters Marie Carol Cecil, Francis Louise Johnson, Clarita Browning, Elaine Burke, Eva Boone, Nancy Murphy, Luisa Bickett, Mary Jude Cecil, Fran Wilhelm, Lois Lindle and Marie Goretti Browning. In back are Sisters Sheila Anne Smith and Catherine Barber.
This student visits with Sister Mary Elizabeth Krampe after the performance. Sister Mary Elizabeth turned 100 earlier this year.
Sister Dorothy Helbling shares a smile with Abbe Christian Juneau, one of the counselors at the camp.
Sister Celine Leeker talks with one of the youngest camp members, as Sister Emma Cecilia Busam chats in the background.
Sister Emerentia Wiesner draws a smile out of this young man following the performance.
Sister Marie Goretti Browning enjoys talking with this teen-age camp member.
Sister Alfreda Malone greets this first-time camper with her trademark smile.
Sister Joseph Angela Boone, rights, chats with this first-time camp member, as Sister Clarence Marie Luckett looks on.
Sister Mary Patrick McDonagh congratulates this choir member.
Sister Luisa Bickett laughs as she talks with this camp member. Sister Luisa is celebrating 70 years as a sister this year.
Sister Clarita Browning, right, and Sister Francis Louise Johnson tell these camp members how much they enjoyed their performance.
Sister Emma Cecilia Busam chats with this camp member who has visited the Mount several times. Sister Emma Cecilia is celebrating 75 years as a sister this year.
Sister Sheila Anne Smith talks with one of the counselors from the camp about the schools the sisters staffed in New Mexico.
Sister Mary Irene Cecil smiles while talking with this youngest camper, who is just 9 years old.
Sister Elaine Burke talks with one of the older camp members. Sister Elaine remembers Nick Botkins, the camp director, from his time at Music Camp at Maple Mount.
Sister Clara Reid congratulates this student on a job well done.
Sister Lois Lindle, left, and Sister Fran Wilhelm are all smiles while chatting with this young man. In the background is Sister Mary Jude Cecil.