Singing priests revive Catholic Church in Brazil

[rug]

By Shasta Darlington, CNN
July 22, 2013 -- Updated 1456 GMT

Sao Paulo, Brazil (CNN) -- It looks like an airport hangar and it sounds like a rock concert. Thousands have packed into a megachurch on the periphery of Sao Paulo for one of Father Marcelo Rossi's Thursday night masses.

The Roman Catholic priest belts out some of his hit songs before walking up to the altar. The parishioners join in, waving their arms in the air.

"Lord, I know you love me," sings a young woman in braces.

Father Marcelo, 46, was a personal trainer before he joined the clergy.

Now he is at the forefront of a Brazilian movement known as the Charismatic Catholic Renovation trying to invigorate the Church and lure new and old followers back to the fold.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/21/world/americas/brazil-pope-singing-priest/

2:44 video at link.

[No Vested Interest]

1. I wouldn't mind a little of that now and again. nt