An idea that has percolated in the minds of music directors Richard Fitzgerald and William Heyer for several years will come to fruition this month with a Gold Mass for diocesan church musicians at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St.
Fitzgerald is the director of music at the cathedral and is spearheading a diocesan effort along with Heyer, a prominent church architect who leads the local sacred music-focused Ensemble Una Voce, to bring together directors and singers from parishes.
Bishop Earl Fernandes will celebrate the Mass, which will be open to the public and will take place four days before the feast of St. Cecilia, the patroness of musicians.
“I am very excited that this Mass, featuring some of the best musicians in our diocese, will be using their talents and gifts in the worship of Almighty God,” Bishop Fernandes said. “I think it is very important to recover and appreciate the richness of the Catholic musical tradition and to return to a true sense of the sacred and transcendent in the liturgy.
“Dr. Fitzgerald is a gifted musician and leader, and the music at our cathedral can really set the tone for the whole diocese. It was remarkable how many people commented on the beauty of the music at my own ordination.
“By participating in the Mass, so close to the feast day of St. Cecilia, the faithful of the diocese can experience the majesty of our liturgy when the people of God, with hard work, patience and discipline, make the most of their talents in the service of divine worship.”
Musicians from parishes throughout the diocese will be featured during the Mass. Gathering them together will not only provide an opportunity for church musicians to worship together but also encourage camaraderie and fellowship among those who give glory to God through music, said Fitzgerald, the cathedral’s director of music since 2015.
“I’ve been kicking around ideas with William Heyer, the director of Ensemble Una Voce, and for years, actually, we’ve been trying to plan something for St. Cecilia’s feast day,” Fitzgerald said. “And we were going to do it, but then COVID hit.
“I have a desire to unite diocesan musicians. I’m just trying to facilitate connections with musicians in the diocese.
“Bishop Fernandes has a particular interest in liturgical music, and he desires liturgical music that is consistent with Church teaching.”
Heyer’s involvement with sacred music started during his high school years as a member of ensembles and continued when he began directing during graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. He has always been a strong supporter of the arts, not only through music but also in his work as an architect designing and renovating churches.
In Columbus, Heyer began directing a schola in the mid-2010s at Holy Family Church to accompany Masses and other liturgical celebrations with ancient sacred music. Several years ago, he thought that other parishes in the diocese would benefit from listening to the beautiful sounds that have resonated in churches for hundreds of years.
That led to the formation of Ensemble Una Voce, a collection of up to 12 independent musicians consisting of professionals and volunteers (including medical doctors, a Latin professor and others) who sing ancient sacred music in Latin for various special liturgies, weddings and Eucharistic Adoration at parishes throughout the diocese.
The musicians rehearse at Columbus St. Leo the Great Oratory and have sung there as well as at Sunbury St. John Neumann, Washington Court House St. Colman of Cloyne and Columbus St. Catharine churches.
“I think all of the arts should have this kind of support from the diocese,” Heyer said. “Cultivation of the arts is important. And, in order to do that, you have to bring everybody together to talk about the way that the diocese wants to move forward with beautification of the liturgy through music, beautification of churches through architecture and through sacred art.
“I think really the benefit of this is the beginning of a dialogue about what is sacred music and what is appropriate for the liturgy. Like sacred architecture and sacred art, sacred music is there to take us into the realm of the sacred, the realm of God to improve our prayer life and to improve our relationship with Him on that journey we take to meet Our Lord in the Mass and in other liturgies like Vespers.”
At least 60 musicians are expected to sing in the choir from parishes that included as of Oct. 28: St. Joseph Cathedral; Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona; Sugar Grove St. Joseph; Powell St. Joan of Arc; St. Leo the Great Oratory; Columbus St. Catharine; Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary; Columbus St. Thomas More Newman Center; Columbus Holy Family; Columbus St. Patrick; Lancaster St. Bernadette; Westerville St. Paul the Apostle; Marysville Our Lady of Lourdes; Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas; and Columbus St. Christopher.
A rehearsal for musicians who would like to participate in the choir at the Mass will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 at the cathedral. Interested musicians who have not yet contacted Fitzgerald may do so at richardkfitzgerald@gmail.com.
The music will be emailed to those who RSVP before the rehearsal, and hard copies will be available at the rehearsal.
A reception for musicians will follow the Mass in the cathedral undercroft.