PARISH MUSIC MINISTRY
SUNDAY MASSES
At Sacred Heart and Holy Souls we are very blessed to have three of our four Sunday masses covered by music ministry. The masses we have hymns and music at are:
Saturday evening 5pm Vigil Mass - a newly formed choir.
Sunday morning 10am Mass we have a well-established choir, providing hymns and a mass setting.
Sunday 12 Noon Mass hymns and mass setting are provided each week.
JOIN US ON A SUNDAY
Please feel free to join any of our music groups on a Sunday. No previous experience needed, just a willingness to sing.
At Sacred Heart and Holy Souls we are very blessed to have three of our four Sunday masses covered by music ministry. The masses we have hymns and music at are:
Saturday evening 5pm Vigil Mass - a newly formed choir.
Sunday morning 10am Mass we have a well-established choir, providing hymns and a mass setting.
Sunday 12 Noon Mass hymns and mass setting are provided each week.
JOIN US ON A SUNDAY
Please feel free to join any of our music groups on a Sunday. No previous experience needed, just a willingness to sing.
TRADITION OF HYMNS AND SINGING OF THE MASS
A beautiful saying attributed to St. Augustine: “The one who sings prays twice”, reflects the church's tradition of singing God's praise. In his commentary on Psalm 72, St. Augustine writes:
“Whoever sings a praise, not only praises,
but only praises with gladness.
He that sings praise, not only sings,
but also loves him of whom he sings.
In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing;
in singing, the affection of one loving.”
Scripture also has many mentions and uses of music including songs of praise, songs of victory, songs of mourning in the Psalms. Dances were also a common music expression along with the combination of singing with instrumental music.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SING?
As a community that gathers and worships we raise our hearts and minds in song, pray in a unique way to God through beautiful sounds, which are most importantly expressed on the Lord's Day Sunday, days of special Solemnity and at funerals. Our singing and worship fills heaven with praises of the Lord God Almighty. It's through our outward expression, that we celebrate and reverence of the wondrous works of the living God among us.
TEACHING OF THE CHURCH
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC 1156 "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 a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy." The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. the Church continues and develops this tradition: "Address . . . one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." "He who sings prays twice."
CCC 1157 Song and music fulfil their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action," according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful:
How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good.
CCC 1158 The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."
A beautiful saying attributed to St. Augustine: “The one who sings prays twice”, reflects the church's tradition of singing God's praise. In his commentary on Psalm 72, St. Augustine writes:
“Whoever sings a praise, not only praises,
but only praises with gladness.
He that sings praise, not only sings,
but also loves him of whom he sings.
In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing;
in singing, the affection of one loving.”
Scripture also has many mentions and uses of music including songs of praise, songs of victory, songs of mourning in the Psalms. Dances were also a common music expression along with the combination of singing with instrumental music.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SING?
As a community that gathers and worships we raise our hearts and minds in song, pray in a unique way to God through beautiful sounds, which are most importantly expressed on the Lord's Day Sunday, days of special Solemnity and at funerals. Our singing and worship fills heaven with praises of the Lord God Almighty. It's through our outward expression, that we celebrate and reverence of the wondrous works of the living God among us.
TEACHING OF THE CHURCH
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC 1156 "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 a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy." The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. the Church continues and develops this tradition: "Address . . . one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." "He who sings prays twice."
CCC 1157 Song and music fulfil their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action," according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful:
How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good.
CCC 1158 The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."
