WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Giving into the temptation of using a bad pun, there is one group of people who are the parish's unsung heroes week after week - the church choir. In many churches, they are hidden away in the rear balcony or at the back of the nave during Mass, their faceless voices adding a richness and fullness to the congregation's worship.

With a desire to honor these faithful volunteers, The sheet music company, J.W. Pepper, along with Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) and Sermonspice.com have decided it's time to properly honor these faithful volunteers. They are jointly sponsoring National Choir Appreciation Sunday on January 8, 2012. 

A special website at http://www.choirappreciationsunday.com as well as a Facebook page have been created for the  event. The sponsors are hoping that parishes around the country will join in by hosting an event and plan an activity that day to honor their choir.

Actress Queen Latifah and country music legend Dolly Parton were asked to serve as spokespersons for the event and enthusiastically said yes to the honor. Parton is one of the stars for a new film about a choir in national competition entitled "Joyful Noise." The movie premiers  in theaters on January 12, 2012.

The singer indicated that she couldn't be more excited about supporting this campaign. "Growing up in the south, the choir was an essential and favorite part of my church-going experience," Parton said. "In fact, our choir was one of the main influencers that led me into the music business.  It's great to have a day where churches around the country join hands to thank their choir members for everything that they do."

Kathy Fernandes, J.W. Pepper's Vice President of Marketing said that the sponsors have envisioned January 8, 2012 as a day "designated for churches nationwide to thank their choirs -- volunteers of time and inspiration -- for the joyful noise they provide week in and week out all year long."

"We are thrilled," she stated, "to be part of such a worthwhile event that honors those that give so selflessly for the life and vitality of the church.

Chorus America (www.chorusamerica.org) estimates that there are 32.5 million choir members in churches across America that volunteer 8.5 billion hours every year. This event is designed to give this group of Christian servants an opportunity to hear "thank you" from their churches in a very special way.