A two-day program designed to introduce and encourage the use of Sacred Music for worship in the diocese will culminate with the annual Gold Mass for musicians on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Columbus St. Andrew Church.
The Sacred Music Workshop begins Friday morning, Oct. 25 at St. Andrew with a session for clergy and resumes the following day for anyone who is interested.
Saturday’s itinerary includes a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., a morning session from 9 a.m. to noon, lunch, and afternoon instruction and rehearsal starting at 12:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., the bishop will celebrate the Gold Mass with music provided by a choir of participants in the workshop.
Dr. Richard Fitzgerald, the Diocesan Director of Music, invites pastors, school administrators, parish and school choir directors, music teachers and anyone who wants to learn more about beautiful liturgical music to attend the event, which is sponsored by the Morosky Family Foundation. There is no cost.
“I’ve been encouraging anybody that’s interested in Sacred Music to come because it will be extremely informational,” he said. “And even Catholics, in general, would benefit from it. It’s about church teaching on sacred music, which is important, and it’s certainly important to our bishop.
“This is the direction that we’d like to go with liturgical music. Obviously, it’s a pretty big change for some parishes, but this seems like a way to introduce Sacred Music incrementally and in a way that’s not overwhelming.”
The workshops will be led by Adam Barlett, the founder and creator of Source & Summit, with assistance from Dr. Fitzgerald.
Source & Summit provides beautiful Sacred Music resources to parishes through its print and digital products.
“The type of music that this resource produces is very much in line with Church teaching on music,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s very chant based, but there’s also good traditional hymnody available, e.g. Crown Him with Many Crowns, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, etc.”
Fitzgerald credited Barlett for successfully adapting and simplifying Gregorian chant for parish musicians.
“It’s rooted in a tradition, but it’s an updating of that tradition,” Fitzgerald explained. “And that’s good, because when making a transition from a praise and worship band to chant, for instance, this situation can be quite shocking. But Mr. Bartlett introduces chant in a very thoughtful and successful way; the resource is very accessible to both the church musicians and the congregations.”
Source & Summit offers traditional hymns, prayers and responses accessible to parishes and schools for purchase. There is also an online platform that provides liturgical music, including a new beta resource that generates worship aids automatically.
“Bishop Fernandes and I are really big supporters,” Fitzgerald said. “I just think it’s the best resource that’s available right now.”
Fitzgerald, who also serves as Director of Music and Organist at St. Joseph Cathedral, views his role as four-fold in the diocese: teaching what Sacred Music is, communicating the theory and philosophy of Church teachings on Sacred Music, showing musicians and parishes how to implement it at the most practical levels, and collaborating with them.
He hopes to hold an annual workshop or retreat for the diocese as more parishes incorporate Sacred Music into their liturgies.
“I think as Catholics, it’s incumbent upon us to learn about all different types of Church teaching,” Fitzgerald said, “and Sacred Music is an important topic because it is integral to the Mass.”
To reserve a spot for the workshop, email Fitzgerald at rfitzgerald@sjchcc.org by Monday, Oct. 21.