I'm glad I didn't have a sip of my drink in my mouth when I read the more recent responses. I'd be mopping bourbon out from between the keys of my laptop now.

And here I thought I had the whole "passive/aggressive" schtick down cold. You guys (Melo and chonak) have this down to a philosophy, if not a spirituality, complete with scripture references.

My hat is off to you both.

(Edited to add:) But seriously, E_G, your situation is no laughing matter, and you have my prayers and sympathy. It's easy to make light of it when you're not deep in the midst of such muck.

Of course the reason I'm stuck doing piano-lounge music is, it's hard to do the whole praise band thing without a band. I'm just going to have to lay down some tracks ahead of time to get the full effect. I do play guitar and piano but not at the same time. Vocal harmonies with ones self is also beyond me. If anyone knows where I could rent some do-whoop back up singers, let me know.

Of course. Just a little good humor among friends is helping me to cope with an otherwise unbearable situation.

In all seriousness, we need to pray for our priests. "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do."

So have you gone through the G3 yet to classify the selections and give them a "grade" of sorts? That might make an interesting thread on its own.

So have you gone through the G3 yet to classify the selections and give them a "grade" of sorts? That might make an interesting thread on its own.

Not yet. But it's in the works. Perhaps by next week.

It occurred to me that I failed to give the back story: The reason given for the new edict was in reaction to a recent Mass attendance report. Mass attendance has been on a steady decline for years now (never-mind the national trend). About 5 years ago, the former pastor was involved in a scandal of sexual nature (not with children, but still...). Before that there was an effort to raise an unrealistic amount of money to build a new church on a campus 5 miles or so from the current one. THAT didn't go over so well. So the new pastor comes along fixes the financial situation, begins a new capitol campaign and renovates the historic church and school building. Still this past year's numbers were alarming enough for him to conduct an informal survey of why people are leaving the church and while several reasons were cited, the music, which has been consistent for the past 10 years was chosen as the primary reason and hence the new edict and hymnal all without any discussion or input from me.

Going back even further in time, before I arrived on the scene, the parish changed music directors every year or two as far back as anyone remembers. The one before me lasted only 6 months. It took me at least 3 years to convince the choir that I was in it for the long haul. Countless people have complimented the more sacred repertoire choices, the occasional use of chant, how good the choir is sounding (despite the low membership) etc. but there's always that group of influential parishioners (whom this pastor happens to agree with) that wants the more casual American worship experience (one that doesn't feel like church).

Speaking of choir numbers, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I truly believe that some communities are simply incapable of producing a large choir--that is to say, they just don't want it. Choral music is not a part of the fabric or history of this community. I have about a dozen regulars--only 3 men, no tenors, and several travel for work and are absent frequently. I remember my days in college singing in the auditioned 40 voice select chorus where there were exactly 10 voices in each section. But that was at a music college. Some churches have larger choirs but most (especially catholic) do not. The final nail in my coffin is that I am to have the choir up to 20 regular members by Jan or I'm fired. (The pastor is sure that the new hip music choices will easily accomplish that). The eldest choir member who has been in the choir for 30 years or more has confirmed the choir has never had more than 20 members in all it's history. I have tried in vain to start a children's choir over the years but there simply isn't any interest from the parish. As disheartening as that is, I don't see how that is a reflection of my skills as a director. If anything, I have been wanting to move to a community that was more musically supportive and interested, but I think part of the reason I've stuck around as long as I have is because I feel sorry for them and wanted to show them at least a glimpse of what beautiful music can do for the liturgy and the community.

"The final nail in my coffin is that I am to have the choir up to 20 regular members by Jan or I'm fired. (The pastor is sure that the new hip music choices will easily accomplish that)."

Ugh...how preposterous. I am so sorry that you are being put through the wringer here. Start applying for other jobs. Get out before you are fired, if at all possible. Is relocating an option?

Well, if you can start giving him what he wants before the new books come, the results will become clearer sooner.

What is really truly sad about this is, even if you do attain 20 members, by perhaps getting a few friends to stick up for you and join, in the end, the guy will find some other reason to give you another unattainable expectation. Very sad indeed!

I'm bowing out. It occurs to me that this scenario, now so full of details, history, agendae et al, might not best be played out in such a public manner. I've been played on this forum by attack sheep from my own parish, and it just isn't appropriate to let it continue by drawing the narrative on and on. God bless, Earl and keep faith in the Lord.

It is finished.

I haven't had to quit a music job. But if I were in your situation and could hold out for perfect timing, I would leave two days before either Christmas or Easter.

I haven't had to quit a music job. But if I were in your situation and could hold out for perfect timing, I would leave two days before either Christmas or Easter.

I once gave my two weeks notice two weeks and two days prior to Christmas.

frogman, you hit the nail on the head!

For many, many, MANY people, it's all about the sermon. The music is important, but the priest, and the way he behaves and preaches, is at least as important. I personally believe that the priest is far more important to most people than the music. YMMV.

We have somewhere between 11-15 at my cathedral.

I haven't had to quit a music job. But if I were in your situation and could hold out for perfect timing, I would leave two days before either Christmas or Easter.

Nice...

EG, our situations sound similar. I'm just sitting here at my home desk, looking at a sheet of paper in which I've written out the 13 dioceses, 1 grocery store, 2 hotels, and 1 family-owned bowling alley I could possibly consider working at in a few months because next year, I AM OUT. I resigned effective next month, but only because things took such a sour turn after some un-informed folks decided to start making hysterical demands and threats (during this past summer while I was at the Colloquium) that it has been affecting even my physical health ever since.

I would strongly advise you to give your notice, work anywhere else but there... Those ultimatums are a means to get you to leave. "Get your choir to 20 or else..." Baloney! What happens if he does a "census" on a day that three of your choir members are gone sick? Your peace of soul is more important!

Secondly, your kids need you to teach them how to pray! If they feel torn and want to come to Mass with you and you feel as if it is a circus, that's not helping them spiritually, or you, for that matter. Listen, I understand. I am a young guy with young kids and it's tough. But in the end, you and I and all the other dads (and moms) get one shot at this raising our kids in the Faith thing. Seize the day! Better to work at a grocery store and teach the kids how to love God as He truly is than to make a small amount more and belong to a place that's so wrapped in on itself they hardly have room for the One they proport to be there for...

Doesn't it stink when who and what you love (the local Church) doesn't love you back because she doesn't know who she is or what kind of dignity she possesses? You know it, and you call her to great heights, but she doesn't know it, and makes light of it all. There's no happy ending in that really, except to hug your kids and your wife tightly and say to them as they drift off to sleep: "I'm going to do my best to help you get to Heaven!"

^^ Amen, JIF.
Prayers for you and Earl.

I can take being underappreciated as a musician. I can take pastors who display irrational or less than professional behavior. It's probably good for me.

But I can't abide with scrapping the real directives of the Church, or a program of progressively reaching those directives. Nor do my children have extra years to sit around and be overly confused or conflicted about what it means to be a faithful disciple, which includes due love and obedience given to public worship of God.

20 strong singers? I think this priest needs to go to the Vatican and take up residency there. My "choir" consists of about 8 at this point (most of which have difficulty finding pitch) and a strong cantor. But, my pastor, knowing the difficulties of attaining a good sound with volunteers, is willing to go with a cantor only, if that's all I have. Good luck finding 20 "regular" people. Maybe you could solicit them for big liturgies, but I would imagine it would be VERY difficult to find 20 :"regular" members.

The pastor is telling you that in his expert opinion that in his parish you are not the right person for the job.

His criteria for your remaining in the job was not created to give you a chance to keep the job, but to inform you of all the ways that you, in his opinion, have fallen short in running his music program in his parish.

If you are able to actually succeed in doing everything he has asked that you do, you will either then be given a new list that is even harder to achieve or you will get word that "his parish" has "run out of money to pay you".

Get out, now. Keep your sanity and self-respect. Remember, working in Catholic churches often sucks.

Let's all value and thank those wonderful priests out there that value and support Catholic music and musicians of quality.

It would be more honest and peaceable to say: I'm going to dismiss you in January because I don't like your choices in music, so I'm giving you notice. If he lacks the ability to do that, perhaps he deserves some pity and prayers.

I'm guessing that church will be paying minimum wage, too.

Earl Grey, I can empathize with you. I experienced a similar situation. The only good solution is to extricate yourself with honor as soon as possible. In this situation, no one will "win" in the long run. You are looking at a "dying" parish until the ordinary steps in to make changes. Keep your spirits and your chin up. You will find a better situation. My prayers and very best wishes are with you.

I am trilingual! I speak in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

JIF: I'm sorry to hear of your situation as well. I will keep you and your family in my prayers as well. I've been doing a lot of praying lately. As much as I would love to submit my resignation immediately, I just can't swing it financially. So I will have to play the game for awhile--until I find something else, or the Lord reveals some new divine plan to restore sacred music in His Church.

Real organ? Sounds like they don't even have a real priest if he lets the "musicians" have all those toys.

[Ben, 'fess up - you applied for the job, didn't you. You're always one for a challenge]

Sometimes I'm glad that I never spent the money on a music degree because once you have it, all you can find for work are spots like St. Thomas Aquinas Church offers!