“Music builds bridges” – Eichstätt Youth Choir in Pune
Eichstätt/Pune – Music connects people and nations, builds bridges, and opens doors. With this realization, the Eichstätt Youth Choir’s ten-day trip to India came to an end during the fall break. The group of 26, which included cathedral music director Manfred Faig, cathedral cantor Deborah Faul, and head of the Global Church Department Dr. Gerhard Rott, not only met the newly appointed bishop of Poona, Simon Almeida, but also celebrated an anniversary with their hosts in the partner diocese during their stay: Exactly 70 years ago, the connection between the dioceses of Eichstätt and Poona was officially sealed. „Music“, said Faig immediately after his return, „is an excellent medium for keeping such a partnership alive.” Rott was delighted that the visit by the youth choir had given the partnership a “very young and fresh” face. At the same time, the young people learned about projects that are supported by Eichstätt.
Encounter with the Church and partners
Looking beyond the horizon is nothing new for Eichstätt Cathedral Music. For example, it maintains contact with a choir in Nairobi and regularly sends its youth choir to international choir festivals organized by Pueri Cantores. Through this channel, cathedral music director Faig established contact with the president of the Indian Pueri Cantores organization, Joseph Cordo, who in turn established contact with a choir in Mumbai. Shortly after their arrival, the Eichstätt choir had a church service followed by a joint concert on the program. The next day, they took an hour-long train ride north to Vasai, where another meeting with a choir was on the agenda. “Our young people were absolutely thrilled by these meetings,” reports Dr. Christian Klenk from Eichstätt Cathedral Music, one of the volunteer chaperones. “It was singing on equal terms and also a totally warm, friendly welcome.”
The youth choir also visited Sister Lucy Kurien (center) with her MAHER project.
Visiting the Don Bosco Technical Training Institute of the Diocese of Pune.
Cultural and economic insights
The Eichstätt guests also made their voices heard at the German Consulate General in Mumbai. During the visit, they also learned interesting facts about the economic relations between India and the Federal Republic of Germany, for example that several German companies have branches in Pune, where the Bishop of Pune has his seat.
On the fifth day of their trip, the Eichstätters arrived in Pune itself and were given an extremely festive welcome in the diocesan event hall “Eichstätt Hall,” which was also attended by hundreds of girls and boys from neighboring diocesan schools supported by Eichstätt. They celebrated Mass in the cathedral with the designated Bishop of Pune, Simon Almeida, and then gave a guest concert there. They later met with the local young choir members, who usually sing in the cathedral, in Bishop Valerian Hall.
However, what made many of them think and preoccupied them were the stark contrasts between rich and poor, the luxury shopping mall next to the poor hut. The billionaire who lives with his family in a skyscraper with a helipad next to the homeless man who sleeps on the street.
The bishop-elect Simon Almeida presented small gifts to guests, here to cathedral music director Manfred Faig.
Education, social services, and proceeds from the carol singers campaign
Another focus of the trip was to visit educational and social institutions that are supported by the Diocese of Eichstätt, particularly with proceeds from the carol singers campaign. The program included visits to two schools and an orphanage, as well as the “Maher” organization founded by the well-known women’s rights activist Sister Lucy Kurien, which cares for abused and destitute women and street children. The group also visited a facility for children with disabilities, a retirement home, a hospital, and a technical training center. “It was a really packed program,” says Klenk, who was impressed by the openness of his fellow travelers. The young people, the youngest of whom celebrated her 15th birthday in India, approached people with genuine interest, empathy, and without shyness, dancing exuberantly with the children at the orphanage, for example. “These were not just courtesy visits.”
Conclusion: Music and friendship
The last day was once again marked by music and friendship. The 70th anniversary of the partnership was celebrated with a festive service in St. Ignatius Church in Pune. The Pune Diocesan Youth Choir and the Eichstätt Youth Choir provided the musical accompaniment for the mass. Faig concluded that „it is something very special when young people experience a diocesan partnership up close. Young people are well connected, so news travels fast. It’s a lively contact!” Gerhard Rott hopes, not least with a view to the upcoming carol singers campaign, that the young singers will become ambassadors for „the good and sustainable things that can be achieved in India with donations.”
Text: Gabi Gess (translated)
Photos: Eichstätter Dommusik/Christian Klenk
