The diocesan choir will present a free concert of music featuring choral settings of the Stations of the Cross on Friday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 800 S. Sixth St. at Lawrence Avenue in Springfield.

The program, which is entitled The Way of the Cross, will feature Franz Liszt's composition Via Crucis, among other works. Liszt's piece is a 40-minute work for soloists, chorus and organ and walks through each of the 14 Stations of the Cross, said Nichol DelGiorno, associate director for music for the Springfield diocese.

Also on the program are selections for Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, John Stainer's God So Loved the World, Orlando Gibbons' Drop, Drop, Slow Tears and William Billings' When Jesus Wept. "They are all pieces that are specific to the crucifixion and still pack a lot of emotion," said DelGiorno.

"As far as I know this is the first time the diocesan choir has done this," said DelGiorno, who directs the choir and will provide both the organ and piano accompaniment. "We have about 35 people in this group," she said. "They are very talented people from across the diocese."  

The concert will provide an opportunity for catechesis for all persons, especially those who are in the RCIA program, DelGiorno said. "Of course, we want everyone to come, but we believe it will be a great opportunity for people who are new to the Catholic faith," she said.

DelGiorno hopes that people will take advantage of the prayer booklets that will be offered and will feel free to move around during the program. "They will have the opportunity to get up out of their seats to pray the Stations or to just walk around the cathedral," she said.

For more information, contact Nichol DelGiorno at (217) 522-3342 or e-mail .