The Xavier University of New Orleans Choir received a warm and spirited reception from a standing-room-only assembly at St. Eugene Church in South Los Angeles when it sang during Mass Aug. 13.

The choir's visit was organized by Anderson F. Shaw, director of the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization, and Bobby McDonald, president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Orange County. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar A. Solis, Vicar of Archdiocesan Ethnic Ministries, was the principal celebrant and Father Giles Conwill from Atlanta, the homilist.

Under the direction of Drs. John Ware and Malcolm Breda, the Xavier choir has appeared at the Vatican at the canonization of Xavier's founder, Blessed Katharine Drexel.

Xavier University of New Orleans, the only Black Catholic University in the U.S., suffered substantial damaged from Hurricane Katrina. The school has recently reopened but many facility members are still being housed in trailers.

Bishop Solis commended the choir on their "angelic" voices and Deacon Willard Hall, parish life director, St. Eugene parishioners and many Southern California Xavier alums took the opportunity to welcome the choir at a reception following the Mass where they were entertained by the LaLa Second Line performers. The Knights of Peter Claver, Assemble 13, and the KPC Ladies Auxiliary Court 99 helped coordinate hospitality.

The Black Chamber of Orange County arranged travel expenses for the choir, which will perform at the Black Chamber's 15th anniversary dinner Aug. 19 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel. They will conclude their Southern California visit as the guest choir at 11:30 Mass, Aug. 20 at San Antonio de Padua Church in Anaheim.