Milwaukee Mercy Choir headed to Rome to perform at the Vatican: "How could you pass that up?!"

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Mercy Choir leaves for Rome on Monday, November 14th -- where they'll sing at the Vatican before Pope Francis as part of the closing of the Year of Mercy.

"Such a miracle. How could you pass that up?" Patrick Walsh said.

The 53-member choir represents 14 churches from across southeastern Wisconsin. The choir will appear alongside the Sistine Chapel Choir -- singing during the Papal Mass.

"To be able to travel to Rome to close the holy door at St. Peter's is going to be an amazing act. There is probably not a trip that would be more exiting or beautiful," Renee Gallagher said.

"I`m pretty sure it will be awe-inspiring, awestruck," Walsh said.

The trip includes a nine-day pilgrimage.

" I`m really excited to visit all of the basilicas that we are going to visit and al the beautiful churches," Walsh said.

"It`s neat for me because I had the opportunity to sing for John Paul II when I was in high school and so now to be a choral conductor and to be able to pass it on the next generation and bring 12 high school students with this choir," Maria Notch, choir director said.

The trip will be a community and family affair. Those who can't make it will be present in spirit, through prayer intentions.

"My sister is battling a chronic illness so I`m certainly going take a prayer of healing for my sister on my trip," Gallagher said.

After practicing for months, the choir heads to Rome on Monday. They'll be joined by 300 others from Catholic Churches across the U.S. at the Mass at the Vatican.

They ask for your prayers for a safe trip.