Bella Musica

The Stonehill College Chapel Choir recently journeyed to Italy to sing in some of the most sacred places in the world.

by the Office of Communications and Media Relations
June 20, 2023
Members of the Stonehill College Chapel Choir pose for a group photo at the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles.

The spring 2023 semester was a whirlwind for Jessika Crockett-Murphy ’24. Six weeks after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, she left the United States for the very first time to travel to Italy. While there, she represented Stonehill College at a Papal Audience in Vatican City. She and her peers sang “Vive el Señor Jesus,” Pope Francis’s favorite hymn, while the bishop of Rome traveled through St. Peter’s Square and greeted thousands from his Popemobile.

“There are many Catholics who never get to have an experience like this,” Crockett-Murphy said. “I’ve been Catholic for all of 45 days, and I got to go to the place where the Church was built from the ground up. It was so impactful and moving.”

The rising senior was in Italy as part of a Campus Ministry-sponsored pilgrimage, which took place from May 25 to June 1, 2023. She and other members of the College’s Chapel Choir traveled across the globe to share their musical talents with an international audience. They were joined by Stonehill staff, alumni and family members. 

“For many of the students, this was their first real experience of international travel. It was great to help them feel immersed in another culture. There was also the fact that Rome and the Vatican are such important locations to our faith. To be in places we have seen, heard and read about all our lives had a great impact on all who went on this journey,” said Philip Pereira, campus minister for music & liturgy.

Campus Minister for Music & Liturgy Philip Pereira

Jessika Crockett-Murphy '24 (center)

Taylor Sprague '23 (left) and Teaghan Herren '25 (right)

The Stonehill coristi (Italian for “choristers”) offered three performances during their time away. The first took place on the second day of the trip at the Basilica of St. Francis in the hill town of Assisi. Fittingly, the group sang “Prayer of St. Francis,” a hymn otherwise known as “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.”

The group then performed at a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Br. James Walters, C.S.C., also served on the altar during this liturgy. The campus minister for retreats & faith formation said the most moving part of this Mass occurred at the end. 

“As the clergy and I were processing out of the Basilica, the Chapel Choir sang ‘Queen of the Summit,’” he said. “Hearing our alma mater sung by Stonehill students in one of the largest and most important churches in the world was a truly humbling experience. I have never been so proud to be a Skyhawk.”

The pilgrimage to Italy culminated in a free concert that took place on the choir’s final day in the country. Held at the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome, the program attracted parishioners and tourists alike. 

The Chapel Choir seated in St. Peter's Basilica.

When they weren’t busy showcasing their musical talents, the choir took advantage of sightseeing opportunities. In between visits to attractions like the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and more, they made stops for gelato and other delectable dishes. 

“The night I got back to America, my family ordered a pizza, and it definitely wasn’t the same as authentic Italian food,” joked Taylor Sprague ’23, a lead cantor for Chapel Choir who joined the pilgrimage just days after graduating from Stonehill.

As she settles into her first post-college job as a legislative aide at the Massachusetts State House, Sprague is grateful for this unique experience.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I never imagined when I started performing at six years old that it would culminate in this trip to Italy and getting to sing in front of the Pope. I am thankful to everyone at Stonehill for making this possible.”

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