Last night for the first time in the history (or at least living memory) of the parish, the large ensembles of the music ministry mounted an "Epiphany Concert" that combined readings selected from the ones used for the traditional service of nine lessons and carols, along with modified prayers,and incorporated several hymns/carols for the congregation and anthems sung by all of the different ensembles (contemporary choir, festival mixed choir, the children's choir from the parish and also from the school and an ad hoc tone-chime group) and one that combined the voices of the contemporary and festival groups singing an interesting hymn from the Mt. St. Mary Hymnal dating back to 1924.

It was a terrific success, and helped demonstrate the value of engaging the musicians of the parish on all levels of ability, and in the case of my parish,the diversity of musical styles. This wouldn't have been possible two years ago, as a kind of musical hegemony had been imposed so that,as Jeffrey Tucker has pointed out so often, a kind of equal distribution of misery reigned supreme, and with it an inability for any of the groups to truly flourish to their full potential because everyone was so distracted by the conflicts of opinion. Early in the fall, with a change of Pastors, I convinced the PTB to ease some of the restrictions on the contemporary ensemble, allowing them within reason and under my supervision to make alterations to the music selected to be more accommodating to their contemporary style of instrumentation and playing. The result has been that the group has grown musically, the sense of freedom has allowed the director to introduce a unique blend of music, and the unpleasant e-mails and stress-inducing conflicts not only diminished, they actually ceased completely.

The concert last night and especially the reception afterward, during which the members of the different ensembles interacted and had mutually beneficial conversations, proved Jeffrey's point which is that given the opportunity, a healthy competition and mutual respect for the many styles of music the Church (most notably in large suburban parishes like mine) can be nurtured, and ultimately make room for the introduction (or re-introduction) of the music of the tradition with the formation of scholas singing chant and polyphony in its various forms and the increased use of unaccompanied singing without a feeling of conflict or a perceived threat to those who prefer the contemporary genres.

So, my question to those who have been in a similar situation is this: How do I begin laying the foundation for restructuring one or two Masses a month that will feature the use of the more orthodox elements of the Latin Rite, but in a way that will encourage curiosity rather than setting up an "us versus them" attitude? My thinking is that because we now have a full-fledged contemporary ensemble that provides a uniquely contemporary music and worship experience at Masses on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month at 5:30 PM, so too we should begin providing an experience that explores the other end of the spectrum. I need to be just as deliberate and systematic as I was in reorienting the contemporary ensemble, as that has proven to be politically successful.

Your advice is so very welcomed, as I have truly benefited greatly from the wealth of knowledge I've accumulated from you all in the past.