While most families this Christmastime will be busying themselves with traditional holiday events, others will be embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Rome to sing for Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican Christmas crowds.

Youth choirs from Holy Family Church in Glendale and St. Thomas More Church in Alhambra are leaving the end of the month to participate in an international choir where they will sing with children from all across the world.

Additionally, some choirs will also be performing in other locales throughout Rome for Christmas celebrations.

Receiving the invitation last year for the international choir, the St. Thomas More choir has been practicing since this summer. "We have about 80 percent new members this year in our choir," says Noel Fisico, music director, who adds that most singers are between 11 and 13 years old, plus a few 8- and 16-year-olds as well.

Fisico is preparing his charges for a "fun-filled week" in the Holy City with tours of the Sistine Chapel and other sightseeing, but most of the time will be spent either in rehearsal or actual performances. "I think we will just be in our hotel rooms just for sleeping," he admits.

"I just can't believe we are going," says St. Thomas More's Magdalena Estrada, mother of 11-year-old soprano Camilo. "My son just loves music. He's been taking piano lessons and singing since he was 7 years old. I'm so glad we have the chance to go this year --- such a dream!"

Offsetting the financial costs of such a trip has meant that both choirs had some serious fundraising to do.

"No one is left behind," sums up Tom Makiling, music director and conductor of the Holy Family choir. "Not all of our members could afford to go, so we had very dedicated parents involved in fundraising. I am so glad I had this kind of parents here at the school."

With 24 members of the choir --- 18 of them current students --- the Holy Family choir was founded in 2000. Principal Marian Heintz remembers joking back then, "Well, someday they're probably go to Rome."

"Back then, it seemed like a far-fetched idea, but now, here we are!" says Heintz. "These children sing so beautifully and practice so much. They have been so responsible and committed to this choir since the very beginning."

Indeed, music has become an all-encompassing passion for many choir members. Makiling says he tries to constantly challenge his students with new pieces that span the musical spectrum from medieval to contemporary.

"Nowadays we don't have many children listening to classical music, but my kids love to listen to everything," he says. "They study and want to learn all kinds of music. They are so interested in it all. I am so proud of them."

The Holy Family Choir will perform a Bon Voyage Concert at the parish Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. with freewill offering accepted. For more information, call the parish at (818) 247-2222. St. Thomas More choir will be singing Dec. 18 at 3:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels as part of the annual Christmas festivities where choirs from across the archdiocese will be performing.