Choir Musings

The St. Catharine's Choir sings at the 10 o'clock Mass every Sunday.

The St. Catharine's Children's Choir sings at the 10 o'clock Mass on the 1st Sunday of every month. We are hoping and praying for new members, children and adults. Call us at 738-1491 or via e-mail saintcatharine@gmail.com

A Special Bond

A special bond exists among those who experience the benefits of singing in church to offer praise and thanksgiving to God with their voices. This remains with those now singing in the heavenly choirs as well as with Judy Lewis who will be in "spiritual communion" with us as she enters the novitiate of the Carmelite Sisters.

Lifting Our Voices to the Glory of God in Worship

I used to sit in the pews during Mass and just sing. I don't even think I listened to the words. I just sang.
Then one day about 9 years ago, Herb Leff and Dolores Cammarata said to me, "Mary you like to sing. Why don't you join us in the choir?" I told them, "I don't know how to read music." They said, "You don't need to know that. Come, and give glory to God in song!"
I thought about it. And then I made my decision. 'Yes, I will join. I will pray to God in song, after all St. Augustine did say, "Those who sing pray twice."'
Since joining I've been pleasantly surprised to learn that each psalm, song, chant, anthem or hymn is directly associated with the Liturgy of the Word. Each Wednesday the choir spends about 2 hours rehearsing and reflecting on the word of God through song. As a result the Mass has become even more special for me. I feel closer to Christ. The music, chosen carefully by Meredith and Father, helped me to understand much more about my faith. I am grateful that I joined this wonderful group of men and women. Please join me in lifting our voices to the glory of God in worship!! (c)Mary Valenti

Knowing that thru the music we sing we are making a Joyous Sound Unto The Lord, That we are making the Mass which is already the most Spiritual Experience an even more meaningful experience for all of those in the Church as well. We all know when you sing you are Praying Twice....

Then there is the discipline that it takes to learn some of the pieces that we do, especially those in the Latin Chant. Once we have master'd and conquered a piece to then present it to Father Bannan and the Congregation with great joy.

There is also the friendship and feeling of family working together for a common good. Over the number of years that I have been a member of the Choir, I have made many wonderful and lasting friendships. This has been a privilege and great joy for me.  (c) Isobel Doyle

Why Join the Choir?

The saying must exist in every language, but at least in Spanish they say: Cantar es rezar dos veces. There must be an English version. My translation is 'To sing is to doubly pray (or to pray twice).' I have recently joined the Choir (yes, that's the screech you've been hearing) and have found it to be a wonderful experience of art and comaraderie and, yes, of double prayer. The combination of heaviness and seriousness of purpose and light and friendly fellowship is wonderful. The songs are simply enchanting, especially the Latin ones. Where else can you belt out Laudate nomen Domini and have it be appreciated? But we need more voices. Come on, guys, there are only three male voices, and more are needed. Women too. If I can sing, you can too, believe me. Come and sing with us. Talk to Meredith or to Father.  And come sing Laudate with us.

A Labor of Love

When we moved to Pelham over 30 years ago and attended Mass at St. Catharine’s, we heard such beautiful singing from the choir that I decided to join them.

The director, Bill McDevitt and choir members were all so welcoming that I felt right at home. We were quite a large group then ( about 35). Some have moved away and others have joined the majestic Choir in Heaven, which some day God willing, I’ll be joining them also.

It has been a wonderful experience singing my heart out to the Lord all these years. A labor of Love—that’s what I call it. (c)Anna Delgado

Just about two weeks ago Meredith Storer and I (Father Bannan) spent some time talking about singing in church and about the benefits, spiritual, intellectual and emotional, of being a member of a church choir. We were both wishing that we could do a better job of convincing people of what a wonderful experience it is being in a choir. We were thinking of both children and adults, of how they benefit from being in the choir and of how they would help so many others by their singing. At one point in our conversation, I asked Meredith if she would put down in writing some of the things that she felt she had received from being in a church choir even as a young girl. A few days later she handed me a piece of paper with these thoughts typed on it. I knew right away that I wanted to share these thoughts with as many people as I could. So, with Meredith’s permission, I offer them to you for your pleasure.

“We were a mixed group. We did not all attend the same school. We did go to church together so we had a common bond. At each meeting we were equal partners in a common purpose: We were there to sing and, under our director’s guidance, to create an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God to be sung in church on Sunday. Certain things from choir practice would stay with me, such as the need to trill r’s with your tongue and the smiling eyes of the director.

The crown jewels of what I took from choir were the sacred texts that spoke of God’s majestic and inscrutable purpose, the baby in the manager at Bethlehem, the Good shepherd and others. The spoken words of the Scriptures have great power. When the texts are sung in well-composed settings with the whole heart and voice, these texts grow in resonance and personal meaning, both for the listener and especially for the singer. The choir singer has a personal ownership and stake in these texts that without being sung are more likely to go in one ear and out the other.

We’ve all been given a light and that light shines in choir to help everyone in the house praise and glorify the Father ”. (c)