Be The Witness – The Musical, an inspiring initiative of Mary, Queen of the Family Parish Blacktown, is gaining momentum at the parish and beyond, as vocal auditions and chorus rehearsals kick off, marking an important milestone in bringing uplifting experience to life.
Minette Mendens, Production Lead, shares what has been happening backstage – with an exciting update below.
Telling the story of St Peter the Apostle and his personal journey of resilience, hope, human frailty and faith – the parish’s first musical production – Be the Witness – represents more than just a stage performance. It is a lively expression of faith, community, and creativity, uniting people of all ages.
Through music and drama, we have the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel and deepen their connection with the parish community and beyond.
Commissioning Mass and Welcome
In late 2025, a Commissioning Mass and Welcome event brought an uplifting and infectious energy to the Musical’s participants and parish, as more than 60 parishioners were commissioned. During the Mass, the congregation was invited to pray for the participants and support a sense of shared purpose and encouragement.
Participants were welcomed to the Musical’s faith formation journey with a beautifully produced thought-provoking commissioning booklet to make their own. The booklet included a special prayer, lyrics and insights drawn from the musical’s script and songs and journalling pages to capture their own personal and contemplative insights.
The ‘Be the Witness’ musical commissioning booklet. Image: Matthew Mendens/Supplied
Participants were welcomed into the Be the Witness journey through themed merchandise and lanyard cards recognising their individual skills and experience, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose across the production.
The gathering centred on ‘The Why’ – the mission and vision underpinning the musical – highlighting how the musical aligns parish life with the broader mission of the Diocese and personal faith journeys of those involved.
A core member of the ‘Be the Witness’ musical production speaks during their formation and commissioning at St Patrick’s Church, Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, Blacktown. Image: Matthew Mendens/Supplied
The event also marked the formal establishment of the musical’s core teams, including Chorus, Production, Event Management, Fundraising, Finance, Communications and Prayer, setting the foundation for the next phase of The Witness Experience.
The highlight of the event was a surprise performance featuring the Musical’s theme song, Come to the Life Giver. The rapturous voices in the room reflected the joyful and uplifting atmosphere of those involved.
Participants in the ‘Be the Witness’ musical during their formation and commissioning at St Patrick’s Church, Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, Blacktown. Image: Matthew Mendens/Supplied
Vocal auditions and Choral rehearsals
As we commence 2026, we are delighted to announce key dates, with more dates to be added to our calendar.
Vocal auditions have commenced, with open auditions taking place on:
- Sunday, 1 February 2026 – 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
- Monday, 2 February 2026 – 6pm to 8pm
We encourage anyone interested in being part of The Witness experience to register.
Choral rehearsals commence on 23 February. Our dedicated music team is eager to work with singers of all levels.
For vocal auditions, contact our Music Director, Marianne Fernandes, at music@bethewitness.com.au
To learn more, visit Be The Witness – The Musical or email info@bethewitness.com.au.
View the photos of our Commissioning Mass and Welcome on Flickr, courtesy of Matthew Mendens.
This initiative supports the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Community, Formation and Prayer, and our objective to be renewed in spirit, building a welcoming and inclusive Church. Visit Synodality to learn more.
