by Fred Moleck
Liturgical Inventory at St. Olaf's Church
Last year when I learned that November 2, All Souls Day, would fall on a Sunday, I was curious to see how parish liturgical music programs would express both the Lord’s Day requirements and express the classic admonition ”It is a good and wholesome thing to pray for the dead” (2 Maccabees 12:46, Douay).Repertory is limited for the combination of Sunday joy and a reflective commemoration of the dearly departed.
There is Fauré’s “Pie Jesu” or “Jerusalem, My Happy Home” and maybe “Jesus, Remember Me.” After that, all other items I considered seemed to be deficient.
I had my deficiency filled this past Sunday when I attended the eucharistic liturgies at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis.
(If you read last week’s TableTalk, you might remember that I was the “dude from out of town” delivering a session on language in the liturgy as part of the parish’s yearly Liturgical Institute.)
First of all, the liturgical music program at St. Olaf’s is as broad as it is inclusive. One quick look at Sunday’s Mass program gives strong evidence to that fact.
For example:
Gathering Hymn: “We Shall Rise Again”—Jeremy Young
Psalm 23—Gelineau
Alleluia arranged from Mozart’s “Alleluia” (Yes, the soprano solo one)Before the 10:00 Mass the choir offered a thirty-minute prelude as part of the Parish Festival Weekend. Harp and flute augmented the instrumental leadership of the organ. The program included “Song for Athene” by John Tavener, which demands high skills.
Repertory is but one element. What struck me was the great vigor of the assembly’s singing. Of course the singing was strong. Everyone was singing around me where I was sitting.
Not so. As the communion procession made its way to the communion stations I stared with my mouth agape. Just about every person was singing the communion refrain.
It was pretty close to 100 percent.
The recessional hymn was “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” (EASTER HYMN) followed by Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”
That would not be unusual. BUT . . . many people sang the chorus along with the choir from their pews!
The assembly as choir took on new meaning.
Such celebrations do not happen solely by divine mandate. They are a product of years of liturgical formation, the continuous building of a common repertory, and a priority given to have the necessary tools to make worship happen.
For example:
45 SATB choir members
30 Contemporary Music Ensemble members
15 members of unison choir made up by whoever wants to sing
20 International Choir members
3-manual, 67-rank Lively-Fulcher organ
Steinway grand piano B
6-member liturgical committee
18-member environment committee
150 extraordinary eucharistic ministers
40 lectors
20 usher-greeters
30 sacristans
25 acolytesSuch an inventory remains dead data unless it is activated by an enlightened leadership who appreciates the worth of good liturgy celebrated well.
Pastor and music minister, parish council and parishioners, all contribute to the great fusion of inventory and mission as we sang on Saturday and Sunday, “Let us the Church on earth join the Church in heaven to pray for us.”
You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@comcast.net