For Melissa Fernandes, a 48-year-old resident of Pune, the festive season brings a special joy. Her favourite annual tradition involves dedicating her time and voice to the Christmas choir at St Xavier's Church in Camp. She views this participation as a profound way to express gratitude for life's blessings through song.
The Symphony of Preparation: Rehearsals Begin in October
The majestic and seamless music heard during the midnight mass on December 24th across Pune's churches is the result of disciplined and inclusive preparation. Parishioners like Fernandes meticulously carve time from their busy schedules for rigorous practice. At St Xavier's, the journey begins in October. "We started with weekly Sunday practices," Fernandes explained. "As Christmas week approaches, the frequency intensifies. Throughout December, our rehearsal hours have significantly increased."
The excitement builds on Christmas Eve when singers from various choirs converge. "The best part is everyone showcasing their talents, be it on the bass guitar, violin, or keyboard," she added. The celebrations extend far beyond the church sanctuary. Sunday School children and elderly parishioners engage the wider community through floats, nativity processions, and house-to-house carol singing.
Andrea Charles Paul, the choir mistress at St Xavier's Church, describes these vibrant processions. "Groups of youth, elders, and sometimes the priest visit homes singing carols. Some dress as Santa Claus, Mary, Joseph, or baby Jesus. Families warmly welcome them, often distributing sweets," she said.
Crafting the Liturgy: From Scripture to Song Selection
The entire planning process is deeply rooted in liturgy. A dedicated liturgy committee first establishes the overall theme and selects Bible readings for the midnight mass. "Based on these readings, we choose hymns for different parts of the service. Since it's Christmas, we beautifully blend traditional carols with regular hymns," Paul elaborated. Even a children's skit presented before the mass will feature live hymns instead of recorded tracks.
The musical repertoire is richly diverse, moving beyond classic English carols like "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Silent Night." Reflecting local culture, St Xavier's incorporates Konkani hymns, while St Patrick's Church in Ghorpadi includes sections in Latin.
A Community Bonded by Music and Faith
Elaine Mascarenhas, who conducts the choir at Good Shepherd Church, emphasizes the uplifting and worshipful spirit of the carols. Her choir, practising since November, includes a remarkable age range from teenagers to seniors in their 60s and 70s. Musically, her 30-member team explores various genres. "Some carols have a contemporary pop feel, others are traditional. We use a full band with guitar, keyboard, cajon, bass guitar, and violin," Mascarenhas noted. The singers are organized into the four standard vocal parts—soprano, alto, tenor, and bass—creating a powerful harmonic foundation.
Guitarist Ralph Rebello highlights the community aspect of these rehearsals, which occur twice a week. "It's a time to bond and build fellowship. Our goal isn't to perform for the congregation but to lead them in song. We aim to help people experience beautiful music and feel closer to God during Christmas," Rebello shared.
Similarly, at St Patrick's Church, choir practices for the midnight mass also commenced in October. Keyboard accompanist Nikita Menezes outlined the Christmas Eve schedule: a 30-minute carol service from 10 pm, featuring around seven carols depicting Nativity scenes, followed by the midnight mass at 10:30 pm.
Menezes poignantly captured the essence of this collective effort: "The youngest choir member is about 15, and the oldest is in his late 60s. Despite the age gap, music and the spirit of Christmas unite everyone in a shared purpose of worship and celebration."
