Welcome!

I'm hoping someone else will chime in with specific books/resources/videos to flesh out my suggestion here, but:

My advice...

1. For the time being, continue doing what you are doing currently in terms of hymn/song selection, as I assume it more or less is the normal practice at your parish. I was once told by another church musician (my brother!), "Change nothing for a year."

Be sure to talk with your priest as often as possible.

2. Learn as much as you can about the musical structure and history of the Roman Rite. The paradigm of "hymn selection" evidenced in your above order of worship is completely normal and typical in English-speaking parishes in the U.S., and it is also quite wrong.

This is not a matter of musical style, of "traditional" vs. "contemporary" hymns, or about which instruments are best suited to the liturgy. In my experience, most parishes that think of themselves as "traditional" are doing the same kind of thing you describe above, but with potentially different choices for each of the four "hymn slots."

The details of what specifically constitutes the true structure of the liturgy and music's place within it is a bit too much to write in a forum post- and, indeed, a lifetime of study will continually unearth new insights. There are several excellent books and recorded talks on the subject, which I'm sure other commenters can remember and link to.

As you start to understand what the structure of the Rite actually is, how music is supposed to work within it, and where that ideal structure lines up with or conflicts with your parish's current practice, you'll start to figure out what changes, if any, ought to be made.

2A. Read the Roman Missal, and the General Instruction. Study it.

3. If you can make it to a CMAA event - such as a beginner's chant workshop or the summer Colloquium - you should do so.

I've been Catholic all my life, highly involved and interested in the liturgy, and have attended dozens of workshops on musical and liturgical matters. Most of that experience and knowledge pales in comparison to what I learned from one single talk by Dr. Marht in Houston three years ago.

4. "Lurk more"

Read posts here and at the Chant Cafe. You pick up a lot by eavesdropping.

Good work so far, gents! I want to echo cgz's statement: don't look to do whatever the Church permits/whatever you can get away with. Look at the documents a lot and try your level best to do what the Church ASKS for. It's not hard to figure out what she asks for once you're truly acquainted with her documents on liturgical music.

Although your priest may have let the last pianist choose whatever, stay in touch with that priest - often. As one of our members can tell you, (The Catholic Choirbook), you may think all is well, but plots and sub-plots are going on in the choir and congregation. Stay on Father's good side and in constant communication with him. I would also add that you should not introduce many changes too rapidly. That tends to create enemies, and it isn't necessary. Develop a multi-year plan with the pastor, and gradually implement it.

Ben, I loves ya.
But in 43 years I have never been convinced that that is in any way an optimal solution for singing the responsorial.
SBCp, what region of the US do you live?
Charles

SBC Pianoman,

I can't emphasize this point enough: do not seek your advice about what to do from noisemakers in the parish. You're not introducing new songs. You're doing your job, and didn't check with him before choosing. If he would like to provide a complete list of approved songs, you would be happy to look at it -- and in the meantime, you have a job to do. (Don't be so blunt, perhaps, but catering to one noisemakers encourages others to make noise. All that does is make a more noisy parish, and the sense that you, the choir director, have no expertise at all and no agenda but to listen to competing voices and figure out who doesn't get your favor this time.)

Welcome to the forum and back to the Catholic Church. Lurk a lot. Ask a lot of questions and never be insulted by what anyone here says. I've learned a great deal here. God bless and try to enjoy this journey you are beginning!

You've got to do the responsorial psalm that is in the hands of the people in the worship aid.

Doing anything else is professional suicide. The flak that the pastor will get from the pews will result in unhappiness...not in the people, but with you. Trust me.

The only way you will get rid of it is placing something else in their hands, not a temporary flyer, but a printed book of some sort that totally replaces their current worship aid.

It's a fight that you will lose if you do otherwise.

As much as I abhor the Breaking Bread hymnal... there are planning aids that you can get through OCP or GIA which will give you some ideas and you can go towards the more traditional choices from those, or using theirs suggestions pick the traditional hymns that best match the (bad) choices they offer. I know this is more paying into a broken system, but to at least get you on your feet it may be a good choice.

Oh - I just remembered one thing to note about "Gather Us In". It's best to avoid the last verse, which says:

Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven light years a-way
Here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, and now is the day.

The expression about "some heaven light years away" sounds dismissive toward Christian faith -- the sort of thing one used to see in crass anti-religious propaganda.

With some of these songs, it's not surprising if they contain very non-Catholic ideas; the author's a member of a mainline Protestant denomination.

--
And, Choirbook, is "Respond & Acclaim" using different psalm settings from those in "Breaking Bread"?

I just read the 4th verse lyrics to "Gather Us In". Yikes. I have run across a lot of lyrics in BB that send a narcissistic message. Has anyone made a warning list of hymns to avoid?
I'm located in central California coastal area.

And Dearest takes on another protege...how DOES he do it? :)

Well, I do have an unhealthy affection for Hannibal Lecter.

CK
Yes, thank you for getting my gist and clarifying it.
C