A community gathers through their music

Intermountain Catholic

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The choir ?Sagrado Corazón' serves all the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Salt Lake City. IC photo /Laura Vallejo

SALT LAKE CITY – Nine years ago, Sacred Heart Parish was without a choir, so a group of people eager to serve formed what is now known as the Sacred Heart Choir, which plays during all the parish’s weekend Masses – English and Spanish alike.

The ministry started with a guitar and about 20 people rehearsing every week. Over the years, people have come and gone, but the Sacred Heart Choir keeps growing.

"Now we are 30 people and we sing at every Mass, so some people attend one and the rest, others," said Guadalupe Hernandez, one of the choir’s founders and directors.

One unique aspect of this choir is that many young people participate in it.

"We are very glad that young people are with us; it is very important to show them they can participate and share the faith," said Hernandez.

One of these young people is Alejandra Rodarte, who enjoys the choir very much. "I like it because I found singing very amazing," she said with a big smile.

As with any ministry, the choir requires commitment. Every Wednesday around 6 p.m. the members of it get together at Sacred Heart to rehearse songs in English and in Spanish. With their instruments, melodic notes fill the environment, accompanied by the beautiful sound of the different voices.

The Sacred Heart Choir wants to keep growing and sharing its ministry with all the parish members. Among their biggest plans is to create another choir that will be focused just on young people, "so we can help them and guide them but at the same time they can create their own style," said Hernandez.

All of the choir members are Spanish-speaking, but the young people have better pronunciation, which is ideal for the English Masses, Hernandez said.

The Sacred Heart Choir sings at the 6 p.m. Saturday Spanish Mass, and all three Sunday Masses: 9:30 a.m. in English and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Spanish.

Currently all the members are Hispanic but everyone is welcome to join. Those who want to join the choir just need to have the commitment to serve and the time to go to the practices every week.