Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 26. During the Season of Lent, we will begin the weekend liturgies (except for the Sunday 5:30 pm Mass) with a Lenten Gathering Rite: THIS IS THE TIME OF FULFILLMENT by Pittsburgh priest, composer and liturgist, Father James Chepponis. Bells will ring us into this a cappella Gathering Rite Opening Procession that will also incorporate the Greeting, the Penitential Rite and lead right into the Opening Prayer. It will be a dialogue with the Bells, the Presider, the Cantor, the Assembly and additional Choir members.
For the Sundays of Lent, we will also be experiencing a Lenten Gospel Acclamation by the gifted Chicago composer and conductor Paul French. As Lent proceeds each Cantor Verse setting will become more intense, drawing us deeper into reflecting of Christ’s path to the Cross and Victory.
On Palm Sunday, a Trumpeter will be leading the traditional Procession of Palms into the Church.
On Holy Thursday the Gloria will feature bells – and that same setting will return at the Easter Vigil.
For Good Friday the Assembly and Choir will be accompanied by a professional String Quartet with pieces including Mozart: AVE VERUM and Andrew Lloyd Webber: PIE JESU from “Requiem.”
At Easter Vigil many of our talented high school musicians will also be part of the Choir’s musical offerings enriching the music of the Assembly.
On Easter Sunday a professional Harpist will join us in Celebration of the Resurrection.
Throughout the Easter Season we will celebrate the Rite of Sprinkling Holy Water in lieu of the Penitential Rite and proclaiming joyful Alleluia’s in celebration of the Resurrection.
~Dr. Robert Wolf
Rehearsals are Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in room 4138.
Adult choir welcomes High School age students.
Cantor and small choir member groups are needed for all our weekend Masses.
Cantor training provided.
Full choir sings at Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, Tridium, Easter and other special Masses.
Instruments such as flutes, brass, strings, etc. are always welcome. Especially for special Masses.
Our Contemporary Band plays at the 5:30 PM Sunday Mass using guitars, pianos, drums, brass, woodwinds, strings & more.
The Contemporary Band is primarily a place for our high school and some of our middle school student musicians to be a part of the music and worship for the mass. They also get to learn how to lead others in worship while sharing their musical gifts with our Lord and his people! The musicians in this band come together two times a week to work on their skills as musicians and leaders of worship.
They also work closely with the High School Youth Ministry known as LIFETEEN for praise and worship nights, as well as on such retreats as the LIFETEEN Fall Rereat, the St. Andrews Confirmation Retreat and on some retreats with our Middl School Youth Ministry Program EDGE.
Members of the Contemporary Band will work side by side with other High School musicians to develop their musical gifts in a new way, and are challenged to think outside the box as for how their instrument can be played in a contemporary style. There are also a few occassions during the year where the Contemporary Band will become the St. Andrew Youth Ensemble and will cooperate and collaborate with the St. Andrew Adult Choir.
The Contemporary Band is lead by the Youth Music Minister: Adam LaVasseur. A 10+ year veteran of combining music and worship, as well as an alumni of the St. Andrew Contemporary Band, Adam is well versed on inspiring young musicians to put their musical gifts to work for the benefit of praising the Lord. Adam is also currently a Student at Eastern Michigan Univesity's School of Music, working towards his Bachelor of the Arts in Music, with a focus on Classical Guitar. Adam is always excited about adding a new sound or texture to the band through the addition of new members with new instruments.
Rehearsals are Thursdays 7:00 PM in the room 4138. Please contact Adam LaVasseur learn more.
The handbell and chime choir rings September through June at scheduled weekend Masses and for special Masses. Practice is Monday at 6:00 pm in room 4138.
Please contact Jackie Tonks to learn more.
The Youth choir is led by Ms. Carrie Jere and meets October through February.
The choir leads the singing once a month at the 9:00 AM Mass.
Grades 2nd through 8th are welcome.