BMCC Lenten Concert – Messiah Part II & Miserere
In the spirit of our Lenten theme: “Longing for the Living Water”
As we continue our Lenten journey under the theme “Longing for the Living Water,” the Brunswick Moreland Catholic Community warmly invites you to a profound evening of sacred music at St Ambrose’s Church. This year’s BMCC Lenten Concert brings together two masterpieces that beautifully express the human longing for redemption, mercy, and new life: Handel’s Messiah – Part II and Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere.
These works speak deeply to the spiritual thirst within every believer—the yearning for God’s healing love, for forgiveness, and for the renewing waters of grace.
Longing for the Living Water Through Sacred Music
Lent invites us to recognise the thirst in our own hearts:
a thirst for closeness to Christ,
a thirst for mercy,
a thirst for hope.
Both Messiah Part II and the Miserere give musical expression to this longing. They help us enter the mystery of Christ’s Passion not only with our minds but with our hearts. In listening, we recognise that the suffering Christ—“the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”—is the very source of the Living Water we seek.
Handel’s Messiah – Part II: Entering the Passion
Part II of Handel’s Messiah focuses on the Passion of Jesus—His suffering, His sacrificial love, and His triumph over sin. Movements such as:
“Behold the Lamb of God,”
“Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs,”
“All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray,”
invite us to reflect on the depths of God’s love poured out for us.
As we contemplate Christ’s wounds and His faithfulness, we recognise the One who offers Living Water to every thirsty soul—the One who meets the woman at the well, the One who calls us to return to Him.
Allegri’s Miserere: A Cry for Mercy
Allegri’s Miserere, drawn from Psalm 51, is one of the most hauntingly beautiful prayers of repentance in Christian music. Its soaring soprano lines and simple chant-like structure express the heart’s cry:
“Have mercy on me, O God…
renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
This psalm is the cry of a soul longing to be cleansed, restored, and renewed—the same longing that moves us toward the Living Water flowing from the side of Christ. Hearing the Miserere in Lent reminds us that God always draws near to the contrite heart and quenches our thirst with forgiveness.
Our Artists
This year’s concert features an exceptional ensemble:
Sally‑Anne Russell – leading international mezzo‑soprano
Giselle Baulch
Sophie Cowall
Leighton Triplow
Jerry Koslowski
Johnny de Simone
with the BMCC Choir and Chamber Orchestra,
under the direction of Dr Anthony Halliday.
Their artistry promises an evening of prayerful beauty and profound reflection.
Event Details
📅 When: Friday, 20 March 2026 at 7:30 PM
📍 Where: St Ambrose’s Church, 287 Sydney Road, Brunswick
💰 Cost: Free – no registration required
📞 Contact: BMCC Office – 9380 1023 for more information