I have a number of mixed reactions, falling on all sides of the question you raised.

1. The hymn certainly has a lot of Alleluias in it, which might suggest "Easter" to some people.
2. If Easter-ish, the second verse suggests post-Ascension. "the cloud from sight received Him"
3. I've definitely used this on Corpus Christi, as a Communion meditation. It certainly refers to the Eucharist again and again.
4. I think of the post-Easter feasts as prolonging the season, as though we want to savor the joy before returning to Ordinary Time. So I don't see a bright dividing line between Easter and Corpus Christi that would make the hymn inappropriate.

Of course these considerations pale in comparison with "I was music Director until yesterday." This makes me wonder if this rather minor argument escalated and became the end of your ministry. I wonder if things just got out of hand. If it is only this once, and if things are otherwise generally reasonable, maybe neither of you was acting particularly like yourself, and apologies all around could be possible?

(I'm inferring from what you said, and may not understand what you meant, so please excuse me if I'm out of line!)

I used it as well on CC as the closing hymn--however since no one stayed to sing it, it was more of a "me and Jesus moment" and didn't really count! Everything else was played on piano and guitar so I still have job. ;)

It would also work well for the 7th Sunday of Easter, if only...

Kathy, thank you for your comments and suggestion of an apology, etc. Please be assured you're not out of line in attempting to help me keep my employment! I appreciate it. Tomorrow onto file un-employment (1st time ever at age 32) :-(

I had a meeting with the pastor yesterday after I filled out my self-assessment, staff are required to submit an 'annual' review (I was hired in Nov). The pastor used this as one of the only negatives he could find to criticize me and he began the meeting stating that he would not re-hire me. He didn't introduce the ASJ topic until many minutes later. I did not argue with him, rather, I simply accepted his commentary.

His other commentary regarding my job performance was that I brought new repertoire to the parish, helped with beautiful liturgies, am very talented, very agreeable and flexible to work with etc etc leave me with a bitter taste in my mouth. IF he meant what he said; and IF there was a problem with my job performance, wouldn't a re-mediation plan be more appropriate?

I think that pastor had to look long and hard to find anything to criticize. Using this hymn to criticize you was a real stretch, to begin with. It was a convenient excuse. Sometimes you have to shake the dust from your sandals and move on.

Costenzod, sometimes they just want a change. It doesn't sound like it is personal. Ask him for a reference letter and go find work elsewhere. Good luck to you and God bless you in finding a new job.

So, SEVEN months was enough to effectively judge your performance?

Not even preliminary judgements or opinions should even be allowed to or begin to be formed until at least 6-8 months in ... I've been in my current post going on THREE YEARS this summer, and I feel that only NOW can we really begin to judge the effects, positive or negative, that I've had on the parish and what I can do better, etc.

After seven months in my current job I was still learning names and still getting used to what hymns the parish may have known before, etc.

For what it's worth, that hymn is one of the episcopally official, approved, and recommended songs for the Entrance, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, in Canada.

I also used it as a recessional on CC.

Me five.

I would take much solace in Kathy's observance this wasn't about you, czod. And it makes me crazy that pastors of souls continue to behave in such a feudal mentality. Despite all the empirical support for the hymn on that feast, I would have questioned the pastor, in all humility possible, to defend his taking offense over its use as a "recessional." Technically, there is no such thing as a "recessional." After "Deo gratias/thanks be to God" everyone is entitled to run, not walk to the nearest exit. In other words, his rationale is an illusion and therefore he's extended his jurisdiction beyond those of the documents and reason. Attaching a false "ethos" to your choice adds only insult to injury. But, the ship has sailed, so I'm praying and fairly sure brighter land is in your horizon view.

Counting my blessings right now at being an appreciated volunteer in an otherwise musically starved parish. Sorry that happened to you costanzod.

Ironically, I criticized the use of this hymn at the Easter Vigil, saying that it was not an Easter hymn but a hymn for Ascension and/or Corpus Christi. (It was not used at the service the following year.) Stanza 2, "Alleluia, not as orphans are we left in sorrow now" refers, of course, to the Ascension. Stanzas 3 and 4, "Alleluia, Bread of Heaven..." and "...Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic Feast" both refer specifically to the Eucharist. The pastor who criticized your choice of this hymn on Corpus Christi was incredibly stupid. Anyone but an idiot who was looking for something to cavil about could certainly have found something better.

I used it for Processional on CC.

After the Offertory proper on CC.

More an Ascensiontide hymn, but not inappropriate for Corpus Christi or for Eastertide.

I don't know if I've used it for CC, but I certainly think it could be used quite nicely as a recessional at that time.
I read it as most appropriate/specific for Ascension, then also Eastertide, then just about whenever outside penitential seasons.

Are we not celebrating a "Eucharistic feast" every Sunday? I simply use it without the second verse, and probably program this 5-6 times a year. Great alto line in the harm. we use, and the congregation loves to sing it.

I find it truly odd that a pastor would make an issue out of this. I agree with other posters- the problem is most likely not with you, or about you. From what you've said, I think you can move forward with self-confidence.

.

Off topic-
See, Padre, things do calm down over here quite often and we actually can be quite supportive of one another. Thanks to you and Fr. Jim for hanging around, particularly when we don't often benefit from a celebrant's perspective, much less major "insiders."
How ironic that this comes on the heels of that irksome bugaboo of what constitutes clericalism, sigh....
sDg,
Charles

As a teacher, I agree with Chrism, with regard to contracts ending on schedule. A contract is just that....a contract with length of employment specifics. If we are renewed, that's wonderful. But, if not, then we have nothing to really complain about since the terms of the contract were, after all, carried out. Every year in April/May I get nervous about my own teaching contract, as I'm getting older and there are so many younger music teachers out there. But, I leave it in the Lord's hands. So, far, so good!

This problem must be brought to the attention of bishops and archbishops immediately and be REMEDIED BY THEM.

It has come to my attention that in our diocese, and also many across the country, the official legal office, or whatever office advises on these things, is telling pastors to not have contracts for ANYONE so that they can be gotten rid of at will very easily.

This is sound legal and administrative advice to be sure; but in light of Church teaching, the bishops and archbishops need to step up and say "NO, I don't care how good of legal advice it is, we hold ourselves to a higher standard and we will insist on contracts in light of social teaching - and if that makes it harder for us to fire an obstinate pagan worshipper working for us later, so be it."

since all diocesan contracts say that anyone can be fired at the will of the priest.

This is always the case, and should be. Employers have (and should have) the right to cease employing people. And there's no way to stop individual people from being jerks.

But the system- particularly the Catholic school system- is set up in a way that creates a level of uncertainty and fear that is completely unneeded.

Another comment:
Several years ago, I was offered a position at a Cathedral, with a "three month probationary period". In other words, I was offered the job, move my family across country for three months to possibly start all over again, if I did not pass the probationary period.
Of course, I did not accept the position. It was until unfilled for years, until a new rector was appointed who had more humanity. They now have a fine music director.
We all have many stories and worse.
Incidentally, the AGO used to have on their job notice board a "notice this church has unfairly terminated someone and is being investigated" tag for suspicious situations. But now, they do not have this, I would guess that it had no teeth and accomplished nothing.
Again comments welcome!

Dear Adam:
Actually in many profession, workers cannot be fired at will. A prime example is the auto workers mentioned before. Just try and fire one if those workers. It is a long protracted process, and it the worker is actually fired, they are required to pay a year severance pay to the worker. This is true!

His only truly negative feedback was that I didn't do little things such as swap out the Polish lectionary for the English lectionary between masses or I didn't come to the sacristy to help him find Communion ministers when he was short (Choir always was busy rehearsing before Mass). OF COURSE, the items he mentioned as 'should have been done' were NOT in my cotract nor were such matters ever even brought to my attention.

You are the organist, not the MC or Sacristan: those are their jobs. If he wanted you to perform the jobs of three people he should pay you the salaries of three people. Pathetic.

ghmus - I have seen the AGO's "unfair termination" page online; I wasn't aware it no longer existed. But that makes perfect sense to me - when I looked at it, I always thought how pointless it was, in that most of the churches listed had been there for 10+ years, and anyone who has been around Catholic churches knows how quickly and completely a "regime change" can be - it doesn't seem quite fair to indefinitely "punish" a parish for the actions of a pastor from 3 pastors ago!