Singing Pinoy priests in US to hold concert in New York

Filipino clergy based in New York will hold a benefit concert in October to promote an upcoming assembly of Filipino clergy in the United States. Dubbed “Cantate," the concert will be held on October 1 at the St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish Auditorium at 6097 Amboy Rd., Staten Island, New York. According to a report of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the "Singing Filipino Priests of Staten Island" will perform with some laity friends such as Filipino soprano Lani Misenas, Filipino tenor Jun Penaverde and the San Lorenzo Choir. Coordinated by Father Erno Diaz, administrator of St. Margaret Mary’s Parish in Staten Island, the benefit concert is a response to the appeal of Bishop Oscar Solis, a Filipino Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Solis had sought support for the First National Assembly for Filipino Priests in Los Angeles from November 8 to 11. The CBCP said some 800 Filipino priests serving in dioceses all over the United States have been invited to the event. November's gathering aims to form a national association of Filipino priests serving in the US. The CBCP said the gathering aims to provide a venue for Filipino priests to "come together in a spirit of fraternity and unity, foster solidarity, and provide support for each other in our pastoral ministry in this country." - VVP, GMA News