“To Be Certain of the Dawn,” by composer Stephen Paulus and librettist Michael Dennis Browne, was premiered in 2005 by the Rev. Michael J. O'Connell of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis to celebrate two important events – the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the death camps at the end of World War II and the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II document that condemned blaming Jews for the death of Christ.  Rooted in themes and subjects of mutual interest to the Jewish and Christian faith communities, the oratorio pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and honors survivors and their descendants.

News Stories

• Three universities bring Holocaust oratorio to community, world
• Local premiere of oratorio tonight
• Students head to Europe for Holocaust study tour
• Musicians to premiere Holocaust oratorio in Europe
• European Tour delivers gift
• European Tour returns

Additional Media

• Videos from the European Tour
• Small Bytes Podcast with Joseph Edelheit and Lee Nelson