LI Catholic school belts holy hits — and expects 3 or 4 kids to do this during their Christmas show: ‘It happens every year’

It’s not for the faint of heart.

A massive Catholic high school music group, believed to be the biggest in the US, is so grandiose that each year they expect some members to pass out during their Christmas performance.

“We always plan for three or four kids to pass out at the concert,” Franciscan Brother Joshua DiMauro, the longtime choral director of St. Anthony’s ensemble, admitted to The Post. “It happens every year.”

“We have an army of fathers ready in the back, but we also have an army of teachers and nurses who are in the front and waiting,” he added of the South Huntington academy’s prestigious program.

What’s truly dizzying, though, is the group’s size, boasting 600 members.

“I’m in a number of professional organizations where I’ve come across the scope of choruses and other schools,” said DiMauro, who’s spent 45 years at the holy helm.

“And I’ve not found any that match our numbers,” added the director, who hands out detentions for uniform infractions and tomfoolery like prayer cards.

The chorus has performed in the Vatican for Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis — and plans to return in 2027 to serenade Pope Leo.

When he needs to rally the masses before a show, DiMauro, endearingly called “Bro Jo” by students, often touts that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir pales in scale with just 360 members.

On a wing and a prayer

Coordinating a Christmas concert of Latin chants, plus other classics and some fun tunes for hundreds of students — there are 150 per vocal part — requires divine intervention.

The annual December show needs about 30 faculty members to assist with rehearsals and intermission prop changes that happen faster than a NASCAR pit stop — along with the dozen or so backstage parent-catchers.

Warming up is also its own scene to behold, as students — they take up an entire bleacher block in the Friars’ gym — are ordered to make animal noises like jungle beasts and “kill the mailman” dogs to get everyone amped up.

It’s an overwhelming environment for ninth graders, who in September have a baptism-by-fire in front of DiMauro and his choral consigliere, Christopher “Senor” Farrell, one of the school’s Spanish teachers.

The dynamic duo hand-pick the best, hardest-working and most well-behaved students in each grade and appoint them as “officers” to manage the rank and file.

“My sister was in chorus in the last row … she told me when I was in ninth grade to sing loud if you want them to like you,” said senior alto Emma Burke, who holds the highest rank of section leader for her vocal part.

“It was so overwhelming, but you became one. Now leading that is so special.”

The experience may leave newcomers weak in the knees, but others like Burke find a deeper appreciation for DiMauro — learning to push themselves toward excellence.

“Brother Joshua scared me back then,” senior bass section leader Sean Brady recalled of ninth grade.

“I love him now.”

And, there’s very little at St. Anthony’s that causes a bond among peers like singing in the storied chorus, students say.

“These friends that we’ve made, it’s very special,” shared tenor senior section leader Ruadhán Campion.

“Even though it’s such a tight ship, we find fun in that.”

Vivaldi’s “Gloria in excelsis deo” and the seventh-century Latin hymn “Conditor Alme Siderum,” which the four senior section leaders chant a capella while the 600 members enter and take their places, shockingly resonates with the Gen Alpha teens as well.

“I find myself singing these in the shower now,” said senior soprano section leader Leah Sudentas.

Students scour the web to learn more about the great composers of centuries past, DiMauro said, and urged him to work them into setlists.

“They’re conversant in Mozart and Handel and Bach,” he said. “That’s pretty exciting.”

Following a successful 2025 show, Friar upperclassmen will be seen caroling around the Big Apple Thursday.

The group will be belting out tunes along the Brooklyn Bridge, at the top of the World Trade Center, at the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in Bryant Park, and at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

 “We do a lot of singing around the city on that day,” DiMauro joked. “It’s one of our most exciting days.”