Beginning this weekend, the musical instruments and choir for our Masses will be located in the choir loft. Our hope is that this new, or renewed, practice will help facilitate a more prayerful participation of everyone in the sacred liturgy. The choir has an important role in our worship and is part of the whole congregation. Ideally, they should be visible, but the conditions of our Shrine church make that difficult without causing distractions to the people, especially since the church entrance near the choir will soon be used again. Another issue is that the old arrangement at times gave the impression of a concert performance instead of God centered worship.

On the positive side, I am told that the music and singing sound better from the loft. And there is something to be said for hearing music coming from above, a natural reminder of the choirs of angels. Finally, this will allow people to pray more directly before the statues of St. Rita and Our Lady of the Rosary.

I would like to encourage everyone to participate in the singing of the parts of the Mass, when appropriate, and also of the hymns. We have ordered new missals which should be in the pews by the beginning of Advent. We ask that they be left in the pews from now on. The reason for keeping them at home was due to COVID, and there are no longer any restrictions in this area. Thank you to all those who work so hard to provide beautiful music and singing for our liturgies. And thanks also for your gracious cooperation in this move to the loft.

Pax et bonum.

— Fr Peter

“The musical tradition of the Universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy. … The treasure of sacred music is to preserved and fostered with great care. Choirs must be diligently promoted, especially in cathedral churches; but bishops and other pastors of souls must be at pains to ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be abler to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs …”

Second Vatican Council, Sacrosanctum Concilium, (112,114)