The Congolese Catholic Choir of San Antonio
Founded in 2012 by Bosco Miller, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the CCCSA sang its first Mass on January 6th 2013 at St. Matthew Catholic Church at the Feast of Epiphany. In their search for a permanent location of worship, Fr. Carlos Davila welcomed the CCCSA at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Helotes where they have been singing once a month since then. The CCCSA has performed in different parishes and festivals: St. Patrick, Holy Spirit, St. Paul, San Fernando Cathedral, at St. Mark the Evangelist, St Joseph, Mission San José etc.
The CCCSA was created as a result of a pastoral need in the Congolese community not only in San Antonio but also around the country. When newcomers arrive, they don’t always fit within the local Catholic Church due to language barrier and cultural differences. These newcomers join Congolese Evangelical Churches led by Congolese pastors commonly known as “Les églises de Réveil” in French. CCCSA is an effort to bring Congolese Catholics back to the Catholic Church by providing them with a platform of worship as they are accustomed to in their homeland. This effort to bring back Congolese Catholics to “Maison Mère” (Congolese French way of referring to the Catholic Church as the “Mother house”) is now spreading to different Congolese Catholic communities around the USA. This effort is also an opportunity to celebrate the universality of our Church and to share our faith experiences with our new local Church in the United States. It is with this mindset that the Congolese Choir is happy to respond to invitations to sing from different parishes throughout our Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Since November 23rd 2014, Msgr. Charles Chaffman welcomed with open arms the Congolese Choir where they lead the choir and minister to ALL people on Sundays at 11:30am at St. Paul Catholic Church. The Masses are truly a testimony to our Universal Church where different cultures come together to celebrate the Eucharist.