 Yesterday, January 7, our parish music ministry presented their annual Christmas Concert. Representatives from all choirs and ensembles (from each of our three parish churches) shared their talents with the assembled audience. The concert began with all choirs and singers in the sanctuary together singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in six languages! Attendees were invited to sing along in whatever languages they knew. The event proceeded with at least two songs sung by each group, ending with the traditional Ukrainian Carol "Carol of the Bells." A heartfelt thank you to those whose assistance and encouragement made this event possible and successful:
Special Thanks to:
Kevin Allen, Director of Music at St. Gregory the Great Joan Mikol, Director of Music (English Mass) at St. Thomas of Canterbury Hoam Pham, Director of Music (Vietnamese Mass) at St. Thomas of Canterbury Daniel Lagacy, Parish Director of Music Todd Gresick, Guest Organist St. Thomas of Canterbury Choir - Joan Mikol (director), Mel Angeles, Ester Berhane, Phuoc Le, Christiana Llanes, Cecilia Perez, My Tran, Paul Nyugen St. Gregory the Great Choir - Kevin Allen (director), Margie Creed, Diane Muss, Mark Salas, Courtney Roberson, Mark Franzen St. Thomas of Canterbury Vietnamese Choir - Hoam Pham (director), Linh Do, Binh Nguyen, Dung Nguyen, Khanh Nguyen, Khen Nguyen, Lam Nguyen, Son Nguyen, Tam Nguyen, Hue Tran, Quynh Tran, Diane Trinh Saint Ita Adult Choir - Josita Gbikpi-Benissan, Janita Gbikpi-Benissan, Preyce DeSouza, Gabrielle T. Lopez, Toni Kibort, Veronica Rodriguez, Rebecca Ferrenz, Jenéne Franics, Marieluise Kailing, Mary Ellen Smajo, Servillano Layug, Ambroise Gbikpi-Benissan, Tom Lemond Gintong Tinig Choir - Mel Angeles, Juliet Concon, Teresita Catorce, Rebecca Ferrenz, Angie Gonzales, Marieluise Kailing, Cecilia Perez, Lily Saba, Servillano Layug Saint Ita Children's Choir - Josita Gbikpi-Benissan, Janita Gbikpi-Benissan, Joella Gbikpi-Benissan, Aelisha Dalman, Josiah Dalman, Mateo Merlos, Samantha Rodriguez, Katie Silva, Ryan Silva, Luisito Montesinos, Salvador Montesinos Coro Hispano - Martín Corro (director), Luis Montesinos, Salvador Montesinos-Lopez, Brando Alcazar, Alicia Corro, Natalie Corro, Ines Gomez, Janeth Hernandez, Gabriela Lopez-Montesinos, Marina Luisito Montesinos-Lopez, Victoria Peña Rwandan Singers - Christine Bagenzi (coordinator) Cantors - Bernie Floresca, Jennifer Franco, Marieluise Kailing, Josphine Layug, Servillano Layug, Matthew Kosin, Amy Rosenquist, Melissa Primavera, Foli Tomety, Angela Tidquist, Maria Gonzales-Hussey, Elise Matson, Sharon Howerton Our church choirs are welcoming new singers! This is the second in a two-part series on sacred music and music ministry. Information about our choirs can be found by clicking "Read more" below the interviews. Click here to read Part 1.
Our church choirs are welcoming new singers! This is the first in a two-part series on sacred music and music ministry. Click here to read Part 2.
Excerpts from Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) -- Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy - Second Vatican Council. Chapter VI – Sacred Music Promulgated by Pope Paul VI December 4, 1963 112. The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art… as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn Liturgy. 114. The treasure of sacred music is to be 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 able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs… 116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman Liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action… 120. In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man's mind to God and to higher things. But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, with the knowledge and consent of the competent territorial authority… This may be done, however, only on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful. Our choirs are welcoming new singers!Saint Ita:
Singing Season: September – Solemnity of the Sacred Heart June 2024. Contact Dan Lagacy at [email protected] or at the parish office (773-561-5343 ex. 13) for a singing interview. Coro Hispano: Contacte a Martín Corro al [email protected] Temporada del coro en marcha. St. Gregory the Great: Singing season: Begins October 1 Auditions after 9:30 AM Sunday Mass at St. Gregory: August 27, September 3, September 10. Contact Mark Franzen at [email protected] or 773-561-3546. St. Thomas of Canterbury: English: All singers welcome! Rehearsals before 11:30 AM Mass. Contact Joan Mikol at [email protected] for more information. Vietnamese: Contact Hoa Pham at [email protected] for singing interview and schedule. Scenes from our parish Christmas Concert, with music from the music ministries of all our churches. Thank you so much to our singers and music directors! Escenas de nuestro Concierto de Navidad parroquial, con música de los ministerios de música de todas nuestras iglesias. ¡Muchas gracias a nuestros cantantes y directores musicales! Ps. 84:5 Blessed are they who dwell in your house, forever singing your praise. All of our parish churches have opportunities for being part of a choir, music ensemble, or cantor and are welcoming singers and instrumentalists. If you are interested in doing so, see below for more information: At St. Gregory the Great NEW 9:30 A.M. MASS St. Gregory the Great Choir/Schola Contact: Mark Franzen | Kevin Allen, Choir Director Upcoming auditions: Oct. 9, & Oct. 16 after the 9:30 A.M. Mass Rehearsals beginning late Oct. / beginning of Nov. Singing season beginning First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2022 At Saint Ita10:30 A.M. MASS St. Ita Choir Contact: Dan Lagacy for a singing interview and schedule Rehearsals Wednesday nights Singing season beginning now until the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart 2023 10:30 A.M. MASS | 12:30 P.M. MISA St. Ita Children’s Choir Contact: Dan Lagacy for a singing interview and schedule Rehearsals Sundays 11:40 A.M.-12:20 P.M. Weekly singing season beginning now until the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart 2023 Gitong Tinig Filipino Choir sings for First Fridays and Filipino Devotions Contact: Servi Layug for a singing interview and schedule Rehearsals Saturday at St. Thomas of Canterbury 2:30 P.M. At St. Thomas of Canterbury 8:00 A.M. MASS Vietnamese Choir of St. Thomas of Canterbury Contact: Hoa Pham for a singing interview and schedule 11:30 A.M. MASS St. Thomas of Canterbury
Singers, Percussionists, Instrumentalists Contact: Joan Mikol Only a love of God and music needed Rehearsals before Mass | Singing season in progress On Sunday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. there will be a Solemn Choral Evensong for Rogation Sunday at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Chicago, celebrated according to Divine Worship: Daily Office, the Ordinariate form of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Rev. Richard Kramer (Moderator of the Curia for the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter) will officiate, and noted liturgical musician and composer Kevin Allen will direct the music.
The event is an initiative of St. Gregory’s Hall: A Home for Catholic Culture. Established in 2022 with the appointment of director Mark Franzen, St. Gregory's Hall is a ministry of Mary Mother of God Catholic parish that promotes the Church’s spiritual, theological, and liturgical traditions to catechize and build community in the parish, and evangelize the neighborhood. St. Gregory’s Hall presents a unique approach to parish vitality in an era when Catholic churches across the U.S. are merging and closing. With the leadership of Fr. Bob Cook, OFM Conv. and the community of Franciscan friars who staff the parish, St. Gregory’s Hall serves as one wing of outreach among others that include a soup kitchen, a food pantry, devotions, and the Liturgy of the Hours, forming an integrated vision of Catholic community and Christian discipleship. Hosting Fr. Kramer for an Ordinariate liturgy is a wonderful opportunity to share the riches of the Anglican liturgical patrimony with Catholics in Chicago. It also provides the chance to minister to the Ordinariate members in Chicago who are currently without an Ordinariate church community. "Because of my family’s strong Anglican heritage and my many happy memories of worshipping in this glorious tradition, having an Ordinariate liturgy in Chicago is deeply significant to me on a personal level—and it truly is a dream come true that I can share this historic language and rich musical tradition with my children and husband,” said Eleanor Schneider, parishioner at St. Gregory the Great and member of the Ordinariate. “More than that, I am delighted to see this liturgy add its own voice to the diversity of liturgical styles, languages, and rites already living and breathing within the Archdiocese of Chicago, an addition which further enriches our collective worship experience.” The Solemn Choral Evensong will take place at 4:30 p.m. at St. Gregory the Great Church (5545 N. Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60640) and will be followed by a light reception. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Please contact Mark Franzen at [email protected] or 773-561-3546 with questions or to RSVP. You can also RSVP on the Facebook event page. This article was first published at the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society. |
