music_ministries

Implementation of the New Roman Missal

The sacred liturgy that we celebrate has been a source of renewal for many of us. God gathers us to receive Him in Word and Eucharist. The readings, prayers, and responses in the Liturgy were developed through many centuries. Some of you might still remember the days when everything was in Latin. And for the past forty-years or so, you have grown used to the English translation, which does not fully represent the depth of the Latin text. To bring us closer to the Latin text that the Church has used for centuries, the Bishops embarked on a ten-year journey of re-translating the English text. We will be starting to use these texts on the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. Fear not! The changes in the text are not great. Change, however, is often inconvenient. Over these coming months, we will help you to look into the texts of the Mass and gain a deeper appreciation of our Liturgy. In the Chinese language, change actually means “transformation.” Let’s take this opportunity to study these texts, and pray that these beautiful prayers may help to transform us and bring us closer to the centre of our Liturgy – Jesus Christ.

Here in the Cathedral of St. Paul, we will start singing the NEW translation of the Ordinary of the Mass (with the exception of the Credo) on September 11, 2011. The US Conference of Bishops have given parishes the permission to do such to “allow for a pro-active approach to implementation and give time for communities to learn the various parts of the new translation in a timely fashion and an even pace.” (Archbishop Gregory Aymond)

A successful transition needs to stand atop of a solid foundation. Most of us change gradually with the comfort of familiarity. We, therefore, begin this transition at St. Paul’s with the musical setting that is most familiar to us, A Community Mass by Richard Proulx. Mr. Proulx, a giant in the liturgical music reform of the Catholic Church, revised this setting before his death on February 18, 2011. The Gloria of this Mass contains an elaborate middle section for the choir to embellish the assembly’s singing - a wonderful example of the music ministry in the Church: where the “entire worshiping assembly exercises a ministry of music. (Liturgical Music Today: 63)” and the choir “will lead the people in sung prayer… by enhancing it with the addition of a musical elaboration. (Music in Catholic Worship: 36)

Following is an outline of our plan for the next liturgical year

Implementation Timeline

Ordinary II (Year A) September 11 – November 20

A Community Mass (Proulx)

Advent (year B) November 27 – December 18

Missa Emmanual (Proulx)

            This setting is based on the ancient hymn tune “Veni Emmanual”

Christmas December 25 – January 8

Christmas Gloria & Chant Eucharist Acclamations

            The Gloria refrain is taken from the French carol Gloria (Angels we have heard on high) and the Latin “Sanctus” and “Agnus Dei” the Parish know quite well.

Ordinary Time I January 15 – February 19

A Community Mass

Lent February 22 – April 1

Corpus Christi Mass

            This setting is based on the hymn tune “Adoro te devote”

Easter April 8 – May 27

Gloria & Chant Eucharist Acclamations

The previous music director Mr. Watson has set the Latin Gloria on the tune victimae paschali that fits perfectly with the Easter Sequence.

Ordinary Time June 3 – September 2

Mass of Creation (Haugen)

The Mass of Creation is an international Mass setting.

Ordinary Time September 9 – November 25^th

Mass for a Servant Church (Guimont)

This Mass setting would be the first NEW setting that we will learn as a parish. We hope, after a year of learning the new text, the parish would be ready to embark on a musical adventure to this wonderful new setting of the Mass.