Our Lady of Lourdes students participate in Pueri Cantores Festival
Originally posted on anchornews.org
Students from OLOL that participated in the Pueri Cantores Festival in Boston on March 14, are from left to right: Killian Cleary, Louis Crivellaro, Emily Krush, Brynne Borges, Alana Cleary and Eloise Tiemo.
BOSTON — Six students from Our Lady of Lourdes School (OLOL) in Taunton joined hundreds of young voices from across New England for a day of sacred music, prayer, and fellowship at the 2026 New England Pueri Cantores Festival, held Saturday, March 14, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.
The festival, which ran from 10:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., culminated in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Richard G. Henning. Guest conductor Paul French, a nationally recognized composer and Music Director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Chicago, led the combined choir in a program that challenged and inspired participants.
Representing Our Lady of Lourdes were Eloise Tiemo (8th grade), Brynne Borges (6th grade), Alana Cleary (6th grade), Emily Krush (6th grade), Killian Cleary (4th grade), and Louis Crivellaro (4th grade). Most of the students are members of the school’s schola, a group of approximately 15 students who regularly sing for school Masses and Eucharistic Adoration.
The decision to participate in the festival came after the opportunity was shared through the Diocese of Fall River. For the young singers—many of whom already share a deep love of music and their Catholic faith—the event offered a meaningful way to grow both spiritually and musically.
Festival repertoire included Gregorian chant, multipart harmonies, and rounds, presenting a rewarding challenge for the students. The day also provided a rare opportunity to sing in a grand sacred space alongside peers from across the region.
Father Mathew Gill, Spiritual Leader for the school, shared that the festival was inspirational and an opportunity for OLOL students to perform within a larger cast of singers.
“Our students often ask about opportunities to sing beyond our school—especially in beautiful churches,” he said.
“This festival was a perfect way to answer that desire while deepening their connection to the Church through sacred music.”
In addition to the student experience, the festival also offered professional development opportunities for music educators, including access to rehearsal resources and training in choral techniques.
The Pueri Cantores movement, which promotes the tradition of sacred choral music in the Catholic Church, continues to provide young people with opportunities to lift their voices in prayer while building community across dioceses.
For the Our Lady of Lourdes students, the day in Boston was not only a musical milestone, but also a joyful expression of faith shared through song.