There are numerous opportunities for you and your family to become involved with the Music Ministry at St Patrick's.  Come join us and use your musical gifts and talents for the glory of God and the blessing of the Body of Christ. ALWAYS NEEDED: Pianists and organists able and willing to play regularly at our weekend Masses. Some training and mentoring provided.

WEEKEND MASSES & ENSEMBLES

• 5:00 p.m. Saturday Music Ensemble meets one hour prior to the Mass and ministers through a mixture of traditional and contemporary Catholic music. Currently the group consists of a small group of vocalists, flute, and piano/organ. Vocalists and instrumentalists high school or older are welcome!

• 7:00 a.m. Sunday Music Ensemble practices with the Adult Choir on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and meets 1/2 hour prior to Mass.  Mostly traditional music with organ and piano. If you are an “early bird” and like to sing or play an instrument come and join us!

• 9:00 a.m. Sunday Music Ensemble (Adult Choir) sings weekly at this Mass throughout the year and is directed by the music director, Mr. Lyle Peters.  The choir rehearses every Thursday evening from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (and as needed June—August). This ensemble provides liturgical music for Christmas Eve, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, Pentecost,  and other special occasions.  Musical styles employed by the group are diverse (traditional, gospel, contemporary) and are accompanied by piano, organ, and/or guitar.  There are also opportunities for instrumentalists to accompany or to do solo pieces.  Open to 11th grade and older.  (Singers: simple audition for vocal part placement. Instrumentalists: audition required.)

• 11:00 a.m. Domingo – Grupos Hispanos -

El Coro Hispano es para adultos y ellos practican cada Miercoles a las 7:00—8:00 p.m. en el sanctuario de San Patricio. El coro cantan el primero Domingo de cada mes.

Una variedad de otros grupos hispanos de música ayudan  durante el año con la Misa Hispano. Favor de contactarle a la oficina si tiene interés.

• 1:00 p.m. Sunday Ensemble practices one hour prior to Mass. Presently this is a smaller ensemble of about 6 voices, piano/organ, flute, clarinet (and occasionally bongos) which also sings/plays in a wide variety of musical styles. If you are in high school or older and would like to sing or play, come join us.

• 6:30 p.m. Sunday (Youth Mass) 

The Third Millennium

Mr. George Souza leads this music ensemble at the Youth Mass each Sunday evening. The group rehearses at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays prior to the Mass.  The style of music is primarily contemporary liturgical music with guitars, piano, various instruments, and vocal harmonies.  Open to high school and older. 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSIC MINISTRY

• Schola Cantorum is a group open to adults who are interested in learning and performing classical music ranging from the Renaissance to 20^th Century classical music. This group prepares for special events, concerts, and hopes to go on a concert tour in the future. The Schola meets on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm; an audition is required.

• St. Patrick's Children’s Choir meets on Thursdays from 4:30-5:15 p.m. and is open to children from 1^st through 5^th grades.  This group works to lead the music at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass every 2-3 months. It is an opportunity for children to learn liturgical music, fun children’s music, and begin to learn to read music.

• Instrumentalists

Throughout the liturgical year skilled instrumentalists are used for weekly liturgies or for special occasions. If you would like to help, occasionally or frequently, we will try to use your musical talents. Please contact the music director to discuss your instrument, capabilities, and to set up an audition.

• Handbell Choir (?) – While we do not presently have a handbell choir, there has been some expressed interest. If you would be interested participating in the choir or financial underwriting the purchase of a set of handbells, please contact the music director.

Music for Weddings & Funerals

       Music is an important aspect of these parish and family events. All of these liturgies are a vital part of our parish’s life of faith and liturgy.

     We at OLM-St. Patrick’s (while respecting the practices of other faith traditions in their particular place of worship) are guided by the liturgical norms of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to all music used at wedding and funeral liturgies (as well as all other liturgies we celebrate).

     As noted by Vatican documents and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB):

      “In determining the suitability of sung settings of liturgical texts, a threefold judgment must be made: musical, liturgical, and pastoral (see ‘Music in Catholic Worship,’ number 25).”,

      “Music is integral to the...rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that word alone may fail to convey….The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord’s suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture….Thus, while...music may express ‘convictions and feelings,’ its subject must always be the paschal mystery and it must be related to the readings from Scripture. Rather than adopting popular secular songs which are inappropriate to a liturgical setting, we should seek out good liturgical music….” (see USCCB website and Order of Christian Funerals, number 30.)

      “Recorded music lacks the authenticity provided by a living liturgical assembly gathered for the Sacred Liturgy. While recorded music might be used advantageously outside the Liturgy as an aid in the teaching of new music, it should not, as a general norm, be used within the Liturgy.” (see Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, issued by the USCCB, 2007).

       Consequently, we ask all to understand and be patient in realizing we may not use recorded or secular music during the sacred liturgy of the Mass.

      One pastoral concession we make is to allow a song to be sung/played five minutes prior to the beginning of the Mass provided the lyrics of the song or the music’s “association” in our culture are not inappropriate or offensive to nature the sacred space in which it is to be performed. While such a concession is a subjective decision, it is one made by our director of music in conjunction with the pastor.