The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Music Ministry
2016-2017
Handbook
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2016-2017
October:
Tuesday, October 4: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, October 9: Mass
Tuesday, October 11: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, October 16: Mass
Tuesday, October 18: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, October 23: Mass
Tuesday, October 25: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, October 30: Mass
Tuesday,
November:
Tuesday, November 1: ALL SAINTS DAY Mass, 8:00 and 9:00 A.M, 7:00 P.M, SEAS (If you attend the 8am or 7pm, please sing in the choir!) The 9am is the school Mass, and the kids will be singing that one.
Tuesday, November 1: NO CHOIR REHEARSAL: (perhaps a feast day get-together at By Golly’s)
Sunday, November 6: Mass. Note: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS - FALL BACK
Tuesday, November 8: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, November 13: Mass
Tuesday, November 15: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, November 20: SOLEMNITY: CHRIST THE KING Mass
Tuesday, November 22: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Thursday, November 24: THANKSGIVING DAY Mass: 8:00 A.M. - volunteer
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-Advent begins-
Sunday, November 27: Mass. ADVENT I
Tuesday, November 29: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
December:
Sunday, December 4: Mass. ADVENT II
Tuesday, December 6: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Thursday, December 8: SOLEMNITY: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Holy day of obligation. Mass times: 8:00 A.M, (9:00 A.M, school Mass), 7:00 P.M.
Sunday, December 11: Mass. ADVENT III: Gaudete Sunday
Tuesday, December 13: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Friday, December 16: 2016 SETON MUSIC MINISTRY PARTY AND MUSICALE 7:00 P.M, Venue TBA
Sunday, December 18: Mass. ADVENT IV
LESSONS AND CAROLS, 7:00 P.M, SEAS. Call: 6:00 P.M.
Tuesday, December 20. ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE, 7:00 P.M., SEAS
Call: 6:30P.M. - NO REHEARSAL AFTERWARD
Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve, Mass at Midnight. Call: 11:15 P.M.
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day! Mass options: 9:00 A.M, 10:30 A.M, 12:00 P.M.
Tuesday, December 27: NO REHEARSAL! MERRY CHRISTMAS
Saturday, December 31: Don’t stay up too late…. 3,2,1... Happy New Year!!
January 2017
Sunday, January 1: Mass SOLEMNITY, MOTHER OF GOD (7:00, 9:30, 10:30, 12:00)
Tuesday, January 3: NO REHEARSAL
Wednesday, January 4, Mass SETON FEAST DAY, Call: 6:00P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, January 8: Mass. EPIPHANY
Tuesday, January 10: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, January 15: Mass. 2nd Sunday in ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, January 17: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, January 22: Mass. 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, January 24: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, January 29: Mass. 4thSunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, January 31: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
February:
Sunday, February 5: Mass. 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, February 7: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, February 12: Mass. 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, Febraury 14: NO REHEARSAL; HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
Sunday, February 19: Mass. 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, February 21: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, February 26: Mass. 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Tuesday, February 28: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
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-Lent begins-
March:
Wednesday, March 1: Ash Wednesday. Options: 8:00 A.M, (9:00 A.M, School Mass), 7:00 P.M.
FRIDAY MARCH 3, LENTEN FISH FRY, MUSIC MINISTRY WORKS 4PM-8PM
Sunday, March 5: Mass. Lent I
Tuesday, March 7: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, March 12: Mass. Lent II
Tuesday, March 14: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, March 19: Mass. Lent III
Tuesday, March 21: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, March 26: Mass. Lent IV - Laetare Sunday
Tuesday, March 28: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
April:
Sunday, April 2: Mass. Lent V
Tuesday, April 4: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Friday, April 7: LENTEN FISH FRY, MUSIC MINISTRY WORKS 4PM-8PM
Sunday, April 9: Mass. PASSION SUNDAY
Tuesday, April 11: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
EASTER TRIDUUM April 13-15
Holy Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
Good Friday, 2:00 P.M, 7:00 P.M.
Saturday Vigil, 8:45 P.M.
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-Eastertide has begun!-
Sunday, April 16: Mass. EASTER SUNDAY
Tuesday, April 20: NO REHEARSAL, HAPPY EASTER!
Sunday, April 23: Mass. Easter II
Tuesday, April 27: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, April 30: Mass. Easter III
Sunday, April 30: BINGO, MUSIC MINISTRY WORKS 5PM-9:30 P.M.
May:
Tuesday, May 2: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, May 7: Mass. Easter IV. Good Shepherd Sunday, First Communion at 5pm and Noon Mass times
Tuesday, May 9: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, May 14; Mass. Easter V. (Mother’s Day)
Tuesday, May 16: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
SATURDAY, MAY 20: BLUES AND BBQ FUND RAISER, PAVILLION, 6:30 P.M.
Sunday, May 21: Mass. Easter VI.
Tuesday, May 23: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
Sunday, May 28: Mass. Ascension
Tuesday, May 30: Rehearsal, 7:30 - 8:45 P.M, Edrich Room
June:
Sunday, June 4: Mass. PENTECOST
SUNDAY, JUNE 4: PENTECOST CONCERT @ SEAS, 7:00 P.M. CALL - 6:00 P.M.
Tuesday, June 6: END OF SEASON CHOIR BBQ PARTY, VENUE TBA
REQUIRED APPEARANCES OUTSIDE OF SUNDAY MASS
Choral Masses on HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION
ALL SAINTS DAY - Tuesday, November 1, 2016
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - Thursday, December 8, 2016
*MOTHER OF GOD - *Falls on a Sunday in 2017
*Assumption - outside our normal choir season
*CONFIRMATION AT THE CATHEDRAL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016, 2PM. CALL: 1PM
CONCERTS
attendance required
LESSONS AND CAROLS: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016, 7PM. CALL: 6PM
PENTECOST CONCERT: SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017, 7PM. CALL: 6PM
Volunteer opportunities:
Volunteering in the music ministry outside of singing is great fellowship and has actually been a good recruiting tool. Please help wherever, whenever, and however you can. Bingo and Fish Fries involve many different jobs with different requirements. There is something for everyone.
Please ask me about the following opportunities.
Bingo
Fish Fries
Collating music for binders (requires coming in before rehearsal some days)
Hosting Music Ministry Christmas Party
Hosting End of Year Music Party
Funeral choir - always TBA
Children’s choir assistants
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
- The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Choir is a musical ensemble dedicated to Catholic worship. We acknowledge that “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 is united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn Liturgy.” CSL 112
- We strive for the highest ideals of art and prayer in sacred music. “Sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. But the Church approves of all forms of true art having the needed qualities, and admits them into Divine Worship.” CSL 112, emphasis added
- We know and support that “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.” CSL 116, and will diligently learn more of the Latin Chants of the Church. 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.” CSL 115
- We proclaim that “religious singing by the people is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises, as also during liturgical services, the voices of the faithful may ring out according to the norms and requirements of the rubrics.” CSL 118
- We will always strive for keeping the music as close to the Liturgical action as possible. “The texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine; indeed they should be drawn chiefly from Holy Scripture and from liturgical sources.” CSL 121
- We will always keep in mind our mission, to help the parish to pray with song and worship in Spirit and TRUTH. And we will always uphold the “purpose of sacred music, which is the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful.” CSL 112 emphases added
COMMUNICATION
The way we stay in touch is always evolving. I love real-time communication, and I especially love face to face conversations, although they seem to be going out of style in society. But for convenience and efficiency, we have many ways in which to send and receive information relevant to our mission.
Please add our website to your bookmarks: thecatholicchoir.blogspot.com. This is our official website where I will post weekly updates for rehearsals and music lineups, some liturgical and music formation articles, and share helpful links.
I always keep my cell phone on silent mode because of where I always am (church, school, lessons, car, or family time). I check my voicemail at the very end of each day, and schedule to respond the next day. The most efficient way to contact me is through text messaging, then email, then calling. I tend to text the most, because is a quick way to ask or answer simple question. To clearly communicate larger amounts of information or to address several people at once, I use email. If a conversation is what is called for, I will usually email to ask for a phone appointment. I don’t like being sidetracked in the middle of the day with unexpected phone calls. But I love to get together face to face to have conversations. I’m always good for a good conversation over a hot or cold beverage.
Please take the time to complete these simple tasks. EVEN IF YOU KNOW I ALREADY HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. This will be fun.
- Email me at: musicdirector@setonmilford.org and give me the following information. You can copy and paste this section right into your email.
Name:
Home address:
Home phone:
Cell Phone: Do you text?
Primary email address:
Secondary email address, if applicable:
Food Allergies?
General work schedule?
-Do you wish to be in the Seton Choir that sings at the 9am Mass?
-Which Mass time/s are you planning on attending this Year?
-Do you wish to follow the Seton Choir on Facebook and/or Twitter?
-Are you familiar with the Google calendar? -The Seton Music Ministry has one available to download.
-Would you like to have online access to this calendar?
2.Text message me at 513-685-6363 and give me your full name FIRST MIDDLE LAST, and I will reply with mine.
3. Call me at 515-685-6363 and give me your name, number, and an interesting fact about you. Then I will call you the next day and give you an interesting fact about me. I pledge to give you all different - and absolutely true - facts about me. Some things are best communicated with our actual voices.
4. Go watch the video I posted on our YouTube channel and leave a comment under the video.
MATERIALS:
Choir members should all have these materials at each rehearsal/Mass/concert
1” 3-ring binder (solid white or black)
A Choral Praise Book
A Respond and Acclaim Book
A Simple English Propers Book
A current missalette and pew hymnal
All sheet music that has been handed out during the 2016-2017 season
Pencil
It’s also a good idea to have the following
Durable (non-disposable) water bottle (not noisy in sound or appearance)
Highlighter
Herbal cough drops (non-menthol is best)
A personalized bag or briefcase to keep everything together.
Other Supplies that you find useful, i.e, post-its, tabs, kleenex, etc.
Seton Music Ministry Attendance Policy
This is a ministry that demands more than simple volunteerism. Simply showing up is not enough for effective music ministry. Once an usher, server, sacristan, and extraordinary distributors of Holy Communion learn his or her official duties and is sufficiently trained in them, they are more or less ready to carry out the ministry for perpetuity. Lectors are constantly called to prepare to a higher degree for each celebration of the Mass. Musicians are called perhaps to exercise the greatest amount of dedication to their liturgical ministry because of the practice and constant sharpening that quality music requires. Excellent music doesn’t just happen. It takes ongoing formation and practice.
I will never kick anyone out of a choir for missing rehearsal or Mass. Stuff happens, and I understand. If you are going to miss a rehearsal, please text or email me, so I know not to expect you. This will help me adapt my rehearsal plan based on who is and isn’t there. If something pressing is keeping you from attending rehearsal, please text me within 24 hours to let me know. If I don’t hear from you, I will text or email you.
If you need to miss a performance, i.e, Lessons and Carols, Holy Week, Confirmation, let me know with as much notice as possible in an email, so we can plan for the change in personnel. If you simply miss a performance or rehearsal without notifying me directly, please re-evaluate your desire to be a part of the music ministry.
If you do miss a rehearsal or performance and notify me, it will always be absolutely excused, no questions asked. But if you miss a normal Tuesday rehearsal, do not sing on that following Sunday, as you will not be made privy to the refinements made at rehearsal.
There will be four required rehearsals leading up to major performances. If you can’t attend at least three of them, you will be asked not to join in that particular performance.
Rehearsals always start right on time and last precisely ninety minutes. We start at 7:30 P.M, and will be done at 8:45 P.M. Naturally, if we’re in the zone, or in the middle of something very cool, we will keep going, but you are ALWAYS free to leave rehearsal at 8:45 P.M. No questions asked.
FOR INSTRUMENTALISTS
“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, as laid down in Art. 22, 52, 37, and 40. 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.” CSL 120
The voice is the primary instrument for music at Mass.
The organ also has pride of place at Mass, and that is the primary instrument to accompany the voices of the choir and congregation. All other instruments will be used as auxiliary instruments to accompany the organ or piano. The organist or pianist always sets the tempo, can change the tempo, and controls where the music should go (another verse, another refrain, ending, etc.). When the organist signals that the song will end, please watch to end together. If the organist decides that more music is suitable because the minister at Mass need more time to finish their actions, he or she will improvise on a theme based on what has been heard at Mass so far. He might repeat the communion theme, or mix in some themes from earlier hymns or songs. It is not good for auxiliary musicians to “play along” during this improvisation.
Instrumentalists also have to be professional in rehearsal - on time and warmed up, and prepared with the music. Instrumental rehearsal involves real-time criticism, and - as musicians know - this is required for a refined sound. Don’t fret or frown over corrections in rehearsal; it’s par for the course. Many music ministries have had incidents in the past where musicians have quit over being told to change how they played something. Faithful ministry in the Church requires diligence and docility, too.
FOR CANTORS OF THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Cantors will be appointed by the director. Appointed cantors must ALWAYS be prepared to sing the Responsorial Psalm at Mass, and may require additional practice time outside of rehearsal. If you are interested in becoming a cantor for Mass, please let John know in an email. Thank you. Cantors are expected to always improve their solo voices to serve the better Liturgy of the Word.
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