The title of this pastor’s corner is often attributed to St Augustine of Hippo. While this attribution is erroneous, the point which the quote makes is that church music has an important role to play not simply in the liturgy but also in our spiritual lives. It follows then that music ministry is an integral part of the liturgy and an act of prayer, not a performance or a form of entertainment. It is worth pointing out the following points regarding the role of music in the liturgy:
- Of the Liturgy, Not Just In It: Music is not a decorative add-on or background noise; it is an essential, organic part of the Mass and communal worship. Prayer, Not Performance: The primary role of musicians, cantors, and choirs is to serve the liturgy and lead the gathered assembly in sung prayer—not to draw attention to themselves or put on a show.
- Full, Conscious, and Active Participation: Rooted in the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium) and many magisterial documents produced since then, music should help the congregation raise their minds and hearts to God and actively join in the worship.
- Dignity and Sacredness: Sacred music is considered a “treasure of profound value” that must remain dignified, scripturally inspired, and reflective of the mystery being celebrated.
- Disciples First: Liturgical musicians are first called to be disciples of Christ—living out their faith, practicing humility, and avoiding the temptations of pride or vanity (“showmanship”).
The ministry of music in the parish is undergoing some changes which I thought to mention here in case you notice any differences.
Saturday 17h00: The guitar group and the organ will lead our music ministry on alternative Saturdays of the month. The guitar group will then join in any of our Youth Focused masses. It is sometimes difficult to marry together quite different styles of music, and this will then allow each one to develop to its own unique full potential.
Sunday 09h00: There will no longer be a choir which supports congregational singing during the mass. The choir has struggled to achieve a critical mass of singers who are consistently available for this ministry. Going forward we will be using the organ, with occasional guest appearances of vocal and instrumental soloists. We will continue to sing the Gloria, Alleluia, the Great Amen and at the sign of peace, as well as the traditional 4 hymns of the mass, though one or more of these could be replaced by a soloist or instrumentalist. I encourage all of you to “pray twice”, because when our liturgy is done well, with the participation of all, we are truly transported to the heavenly realms.
