On August 13 the community of Saint Bernadette will celebrate Mass in their new church building. (The Rite of Dedication will occur later in the fall/winter once the permanent altar arrives.)
We will have a choir of 23, including some of the best singers from around the diocese.
Within a year the parish came to embrace a program of sacred music including chanted propers and traditional hymnody - and now they'll get to experience it in a truly sacred space.
Photo of the church and worship aid for this weekend are attached.
Thank God for wonderful priests who make these things possible!
There is something odd (at least to me) with the image: somehow it looks more like a computer model - a very good one, though, with the flooring worker and such - rather than a photogroph ... not sure what it is. Maybe the smooth wall color without cracks and patches? (I have never been in a newbuilt church in traditional style, that might be the reason; we don't have these around in this part of 'old' Europe.)
It is both sad and cruel when we musicians insult an instrument that makes worship possible. Can we not grow up? Or must we all remain callous and unfeeling?
My comment was in good humor. I am grateful for what we have available. It's actually a wonderful sounding instrument (Roland C-330), and it sounds great in this acoustic. Of course we'd love to have a magnificent pipe organ some day, but that takes time & money.
The "toaster" (which I call it with endearing love) is a great addition to our liturgies. It has opened up new possibilities of sacred music to the congregation. If it seems that I am ungrateful to have it at our disposal, I apologize for a perceived negativity. We really love having it here.
The opening of the new church was this evening, and after Mass I could not escape from parishioners and clergy who were just in awe of the heavenly liturgy & music - most of which would not be possible without our beloved toaster.
St. Bernadette is my territorial parish and I agree with the above assessment that the beloved toaster does sound lovely in the room. It is just a foretaste of things to come when we get a lovely pipe organ installed, but it does sound wonderful for the time being.
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