I would be remiss if I didn’t mention at the start that I believe you are doing a fantastic job with the music ministry. Not only with the actual music (your organ playing at the 4pm Masses is powerful and wonderful, and your piano playing at the other Masses, especially the 10am Mass, is fantastic), but also working with the cantors to build out the adult and children’s choir. But I would like to stress again how your organ and piano playing really enhances the Liturgy….you are a very gifted musician.

With that said, the basis for most of the discussion in our recent PPC meeting dealt mostly with music selection. I believe I understand what you’re trying to accomplish, especially after listening to your explanation the last time you visited the PPC. I also appreciate the fact that there is something to be said of introducing new music to the congregation, or trying to use songs that fit the most traditional definition of what should be played during Mass.

But there is another side of the argument we really need to consider. Music enhances a liturgy when people are familiar with the hymns and can participate by singing. When I sit through a Mass and am not familiar with 50% of the songs, I feel as though not only my participation in the Mass, but my level of worship, was not as strong as it could have been. (It’s tough to define, but it’s almost as if when you’re trying to pray, but keep getting distracted by something….at the end, you don’t feel like you were very prayful.). I’m not sure if you can hear above your singing and playing, but there is a definite difference in hearing people sing, when they know the song vs when they don’t know it. When the congregation is quiet during a song, has that specific music selection really accomplished what it was intended to do?

To sum it up in once sentence: I think if we can just swing the pendulum back slightly towards familiar songs, so that people can sing along, this whole thing will go away. I’m not asking, and I don’t think anybody is, that we stop introducing new music into the Mass; but keeping a “majority” of the music familiar, with new songs interspersed throughout, would be a better formula than a heavier dose of new music.

I don’t know if you keep records, but I lectored today at the 10am Mass. Music selection was fantastic – I was able to sing every song you selected, and it felt like I fully participated in the Mass. I also heard people singing the songs as well. To that end, as requested by you and Fr. John, I’ve attached a list of the songs I’m familiar with. Please note that of the 100+ songs, I’m sure there are at least 10% - 15% more that I didn’t recognize just flipping through the pages…that if I heard the songs being played I’d be familiar with them as well.

Another entire issue is Lent, which will be coming up in about 4 months or so. Using my pendulum theme, I believe last year the pendulum swung to the extreme during Lent. I am all for Latin/chanting/subdued music, but just not the extent it went last year. But this is a topic for another meeting/discussion.

I hope this wasn’t too long to read, and I’m more than happy to answer any questions or provide any additional information. I’d be happy to meet, but again, I don’t think I’d have anything new to add, since you and I spoke on this a few times already.

Thanks again for your response and time. Remember – it’s a good thing when people voice concern, because it means they care. Much better than people going to Mass and not caring/participating in the music ministry!

I was told by a colleague of mine that to some Latin has a socio-political agenda attached to it to which they are specifically against.

For your sake, I'd recommend that you not spend much time on this person's complaints any more; don't share them with people outside the parish, etc. You have more valuable things to do!

The St Joseph song is unfamiliar.

I use every Christmas carol possible at least through Epiphany. No one will ever be able to say we don't sing Christmas carols. It is such a short season anyway, it doesn't hurt to give carols some priority. The PR from it is a good thing.