FILCA Youth Choir Performed at St. Patrick's Cathedral
The Filipino Catholic group gathered to share religious music during the recent Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Catholicism
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The FILCA Youth Choir showcased Filipino religious music at St. Patrick's Cathedral on September 13. The ensemble features approximately 50 singers who aim to foster faith and culture among Filipino American youth.
Why it matters
The choir serves as a platform to bridge cultural heritage and religious practice for the next generation of Filipino Americans. It unites families from across the city to preserve and perform traditional liturgical pieces.
The choir membership consists of 50 singers ranging from 9-year-olds like Jacob Reynes and Scion Ticzon to older teenagers. The group grew from an original circle of 15 families.
The players
FILCA Youth Choir
This musical group was formed by the Filipino Catholic Apostolate to unite children through faith and traditional music.
Jacob Reynes
He is a 9-year-old member of the choir who participated in the recent performance at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Scion Ticzon
He is a 9-year-old choir member who joins children from various boroughs to perform Filipino religious songs.
The details
Families residing in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island coordinate to attend rehearsals at a central location. The choir performs traditional Filipino religious music including Ama Namin, Gloria, and Papuri sa Diyos.
Timeline
September 13: The choir performed at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
2026: The FILCA Youth Choir was conceptualized.
Later this year: The choir is expected to sing during Simbang Gabi.
Culture Shift
The emergence of youth-led apostolate choirs reflects a broader movement within the Catholic Church to engage younger generations through culturally specific liturgical expressions. This trend highlights a shift toward incorporating heritage-based music into mainstream worship spaces.
Families across New York City boroughs can participate in the choir by coordinating travel to the central rehearsal site. This provides a structured social and religious outlet for Filipino American youth in the region.
The takeaway
Groups like this provide a vital connection between traditional religious practices and the daily lives of younger community members. Engaging youth through music helps ensure that cultural heritage remains active across generations.
What happens next
The choir is scheduled to perform during the upcoming Simbang Gabi celebrations later this year.
Further reading
Learn more about local religious traditions in our Catholicism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GMA Network.
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