Music Ministry

Giving Glory and Praise to God

Mass Times and Groups

Our Music Ministry seeks to glorify God and aid in the sanctification of the faithful through the enrichment of the liturgy with Sacred Music.  We are always looking for volunteer cantors and choir members for the following Masses:

  • 5:00PM Saturday Mass

  • 8:00AM Sunday Mass

  • 10:45AM Sunday Mass

If you are interested in volunteering, please see below for the different ways you can participate:

  • St. Theresa Choir: The St. Theresa Choir is a mixed choir that sings at the Sunday 10:45 Mass and other special feasts throughout the year.  The choir leads the congregation in the singing of hymns and Mass parts, performs meditative choral motets and chants, and sings the Introit, Offertory, and Communion antiphons. Repertoire includes Hymnody, Chant, and choral pieces from antiquity through modernity. The choral season runs from Labor Day through Corpus Christi. Rehearsals are held every Wednesday from 7:00-8:30pm in the church. No audition or experience needed.

  • Cantor: The cantor sings at Masses without a choir, and is responsible for leading the congregation in the singing of hymns and Mass parts. Additionally, the cantor sings the Kyrie, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Introit antiphon, and Communion antiphon. Cantors must be able to sing solo, and training can be provided upon request.

  • Youth Choir: Open to all youth ages 7-17, the Youth Choirs sings for the Christmas Vigil Mass. This is an excellent opportunity for youth to receive musical and liturgical formation, and to participate in a parish ministry. Pending interest, rehearsals will begin the first week of November (time and day TBD). There is a minimum amount of rehearsals required to attend to be able to sing with this choir.

     

If you are interested in joining any of these groups, or would like more information, please contact our Director of Sacred Music, Ian Simon, at ian@sttheresachurch.com

Sacred Music

Through its union with the very texts of the Mass, Sacred Music forms an "integral part of the solemn liturgy" and serves to glorify God and aid in the sanctification of the faithful. The Church affirms that her musical tradition is a "treasure of inestimable value" that must be "preserved and fostered with great care"  (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy). Pope Saint Pius X, in his 1903 document on Sacred Music, Tra Le Sollecitudini, states that two qualities characterize Sacred Music: it must be holy and have goodness of form.  At St. Theresa, we take to heart the teachings of Mother Church on Sacred Music, and work to have a program that fosters the "full, conscious, and active" participation called for by Vatican II.

Gregorian Chant:  Gregorian Chant is the music of the Roman Catholic Church that has developed with the liturgy and has been consecrated and set aside specifically for liturgical use. In order to preserve this form of music in the Mass, as called for by Vatican II, we chant the Ordinary parts of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) in both Latin and English.

Hymnody: At St. Theresa's, we believe that hymnody should be singable by all. We carefully select appropriate hymns that can be sung easily by all members of our congregation. Additionally, we select only those hymns that have solid Catholic theology, are well composed, and are unassociated in style with the pop music of our day.

Proper Antiphons: Proper antiphons are scriptural texts chanted at the entrance, offertory, and communion, and are part of the official texts for the Mass found in the Roman Missal and the Roman Gradual. According to Vatican and national liturgical guidelines, it is both permissible and laudable to use the proper antiphons. 

Pipe Organ: Vatican II affirms that the organ is "to be held in high esteem" as the "traditional instrument" of the Latin rite. We therefore use the organ at Mass, as it adds a "wonderful splendor" to the liturgy and is specially suited to it, being especially associated with what is sacred.