Together in Worship Canada’s inaugural In Loving Memory choral prayer service at St. Paul’s Basilica Nov. 4 aims to unite the community in remembrance with hopes of making it an annual tradition of solace and sacred music. 

The event, a prayer service interspersed with sacred choral music, is specially designed to honour all those who are departed by offering a reflective, sombre and prayerful experience during the month of holy souls. Coinciding with Together in Worship’s mission, the first-of-its-kind event is looking to provide comfort through sacred music and reflection, creating a moment that suspends time for remembrance and community. 

“There are a lot of parishes that will honour those that died during the year, and I wanted to hold something a little more inclusive for all those who died. When we do a funeral liturgy, the music used is often soothing and comforting for so many, and that’s what inspired me to go forward with it,” said Diego Iapaolo, founder of Together in Worship Canada.

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“I figured the choral aspect would be a nice way to kind of bring awareness to the funeral liturgy but also be a way of taking a moment to pause and enjoy good Scripture, good music and come away with a very good experience.” 

Together in Worship Canada was started by Iapaolo, organist for Toronto’s St. Margaret of Scotland Parish for 36 years, in 2020 during the pandemic. The organization draws inspiration from the Mark Thallander Foundation’s Hymn Festivals in the U.S., focusing on organ and sacred choral music typically heard in Sunday worship through various concerts and services. 

Leveraging his long-standing relationship with Fr. Robert O'Brien, Iapaolo was able to book the In Loving Memory service at St. Paul’s Basilica, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. There, music by the Canadian Vocal Ensemble Mosaic under the direction of Vincent Cheng, a fellow graduate of  St. Michael's Choir School, will take place along with Scripture reflections and guest speakers.

Teased to be performed by the roughly 25-person choir during the service is Wolfgang Amadeaus Mozart’s "Laudate Dominum," "Ave Maria" by Franz Biebl, Gabriel Fauréls’s "Cantique de Jean Racine" and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Pie Jesu." 

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“We plan on having darker lighting that night with candles being used to help set the tone of remembrance and dignity for all those who have gone before us, whether our own family, friends or whomever,” Iapaolo said of the planned atmosphere. 

“People may even just want to join us to come hear some beautiful music and be reflective for an hour in that beautiful space. No matter who or why, all are warmly invited to attend this prayerful gathering.”  

While the service will mark the first of Together in Worship Canada’s In Loving Memory events, the founder hopes for the series to return as a recurring offering in the future, citing the universal inevitability of loss as a driving reason for further commemorations. 

“ My hope is that over time this event does take off in the sense that it gives all of us an avenue to commemorate those that we've lost, and that's all of us; we've all experienced loss in some way, shape or form,” he said. 

The first In Loving Memory choral prayer service will be free of charge, with a suggested free-will offering of $10, and begins at 7:30 p.m. .  

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“ I hope in a lot of ways it'll be multifaceted and invoke many feelings. Reflection, remembrance, just a quiet time with God, community and togetherness. These things are so important, especially when we have funerals,” Iapaolo said. 

"This is a time for us as a faith community, commemorating all souls, to embrace the meaning of community by being together and supporting each other, especially for those who've gone before us.”