“Whoever sings a praise, not only praises, but only praises with gladness. He that sings praise, not only sings, but also loves him of whom he sings. In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing; in singing, the affection of one loving.”
St. Augustine, Commentaries to the Psalms, “Psalm 72”
From the very beginning, music has played a beautiful role in the liturgy of the Catholic Church, and because of this the roles of Music Ministers is so vital. Participation in this ministry can be used as a powerful means of praising God, can provide a strengthening of the full liturgical message and themes of the Mass, and can inspire those around you to more fully connect with what is taking place.
Music ministry can come in a variety of forms, including as a:
- Music Director
- Instrumentalist (organist, string or wind player, etc.)
- Cantor
- Choir Member
All of these roles are important and are utilized at different points during the Masses celebrated at Our Lady of Knock Parish. If you are interested in sharing your musical talents at the churches of our parish, we invite you to speak with our Music Directors: Rick Daddario and Jim Lawrence.
They can provide you with information about potentially joining the choir or could have a conversation about other ways in which you could possibly participate. While we are not able to facilitate every musical possibility, we are always happy to hear new ideas and to consider what new and interesting possibilities might be able to further enhance the musical and liturgical experience at our parish.
Christmas at St. Mary’s (1973)
At various times the musicians of our parish have joined their talents together to perform and record beautiful musical collections. In 1973, under the direction of the Music Director Allan Dabkowski, the St. Mary’s Choir recorded an album entitled Christmas at St. Mary’s to help celebrate that holy season. The tracks of the album can be listened to below.