I think that the best way to do this is to not say anything. Any announcements, notes in the bulletin, anything beyond just hearing the music can be a red flag to dissenters who are unhappy for whatever with the church.

Just change the music....the vast majority will not notice, being catholic and having learned to just accept what happens...the ones who do notice and complain, well, it's simple. Immediately pull out a little notebook (I recommend a Moleskin) and get them to write their name, phone and email address. Tell them that you are thrilled that they are concerned about the music in the church and ask them, once you get this info on the page and back in your hands, what music group that they want to join because you want the people in the church who are concerned about the music involved in making the music.

It's that simple. If they want to complain, they have to pay the piper. The people who really, really hate the changes will become your biggest supporters within a year. I have proof of that...

Also, your organist/s will freak out that you play. I used to substitute at a church where the priest was a Macurdy student at Curtis...stress! Just tell them that it is so wonderful NOT to have to play the organ that you really don't pay attention to wrong notes or anything...not that you ignore them, but because you are thrilled to have them there, so that you might celebrate Mass with their music.

Fr., just a few thoughts.

It happens to be just the right time to buy hymnals, because of the new translation. To ease the transition, one could keep a subscription to an OCP missalette, so there is a superficial continuity.

I'm very much of the opinion that the first thing to do is to sing a Psalm during the Communion procession.

The Flor y Canto hymnal has enough sound doctrine to fill a couple of months worth of hymns, and the seasons. I wouldn't begin by changing the musical idiom at a Spanish-language Mass.

Your musicians are likely to enjoy new repertoire so much that after some likely initial inertia, they will be on your side.

Father:

My colleagues beat me to the punch... they have great advice... change slow, do less change with Spanish. How many of the Spanish actually read? We have a huge population of Spanish here, but only 15% can actually read their own language, so hymnals are a moot point.

Put more responsibility on the musicians to do new things (that will eventually morph out into congregational singing)... introduce them by having the people listen as a meditation. Even the parts of the Ordinary can be sung this way. Educate the congregation through inserts in bulletin about Sacred Music... even just little snipets... "Did you know? Latin is the universal and official language of the Roman Rite? ...Surprise!" etc. (jk)... but 1 or 2 paragraphs about an upcoming piece that the choir is singing, some history is a great way to wet their appetites. Many of the original hymns are actually just chant... be sure to do them! And they have English versions too.

Some are: Pange Lingua, Adoro to devote, Jesu dulcis memoria, O salutaris Hostia, the two "Veni" hymns for Pentecost, Salve Regina, Regina Caeli, Creator alme siderum, Resonet in laudibus, Stabat Mater, Hosanna filio David, etc.

You should definitely buy the choir the Parish Book of Chant... it is a wonderful way to get going.

http://musicasacra.com/pbc/

Let the choir introduce Latin chant and assure the people that their participation at that point is in listening and meditating on the mystery before them. Of course, Jubilate Deo is a good place to start with chant selections. After a good number of weeks, have the people sing the Kyrie (ok ... so it's Greek... it's going to be all Greek to them anyway)

Also, a great way to get them singing the chant is to begin by introducing the English versions of the chant that are found in the new MR3. They are all based in the Jubilate Deo chant melodies. What a stroke of Genius!

Here's a link for the book.

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-books/jubilate-deo/sku/20227

Do you have any books with chant in them at the moment? Curious... what kind of organ is in your church?

VG David:

Father: From the GIRM and Musicam Sacram:


“In the choosing of the parts actually to be sung, however, preference should be given to those that are of greater importance and especially to those to be sung by the priest or the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the priest and people together.” (GIRM §40)

In this, the GIRM follows the 1967 instruction on sacred music, Musicam Sacram §7, which says “However, in selecting the parts which are to be sung, one should start with those that are by their nature of greater importance, and especially those which are to be sung by the priest or by the ministers, with the people replying, or those which are to be sung by the priest and people together.”