Event Recap – 2025 Palestrina 500 Pontifical High Mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Grand Rapids, MI
- Isabella Maciejewski
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 5
On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel—July 16, 2025—the faithful gathered at Sacred Heart Parish in Grand Rapids for a profound celebration of the sacred liturgy, offered as part of the Palestrina 500 Festival, a year-long commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the great Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.
The Pontifical Solemn High Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, whose deep commitment to sacred liturgy and beauty gave powerful witness to the Church’s living tradition. The liturgy was enriched by the presence of the London Oratory Schola Cantorum of Boys, who traveled from the UK to sing the entire Mass, offering the Church’s treasury of Gregorian chant and Palestrina’s polyphony in service of the altar.
Comprising over 40 young British choristers, the Schola is internationally acclaimed for its excellence in sacred music and its central role in the liturgical life of the London Oratory. Under the direction of Charles Cole, the boys brought to Grand Rapids a rare and moving expression of the musical tradition that has shaped Catholic worship for centuries. To learn more about their tour, visit this link.
This sacred liturgy was sponsored by the St. John Henry Newman Institute, whose strategic, invitation-only grants support initiatives that advance the Catholic intellectual, cultural, and liturgical tradition. Events like this Mass embody the Institute’s mission to renew the Church through fidelity to truth, beauty, and excellence.
We extend heartfelt thanks to Archbishop Cordileone, the London Oratory Schola, and all who made this evening possible. The Palestrina 500 Festival continues throughout the year, inviting the faithful to rediscover the richness of our sacred musical heritage.
