Catholic School Graduation Mass
  • Dr_Haze
    Posts: 22
    I am once again preparing the music for an 8th Grade Graduation Mass at the school where I serve both as Parish Music Director and as a music teacher. The Mass is immediately followed by the graduation ceremony. This is the third year I have coordinated this liturgy, and after two previous experiences involving questionable music selections and liturgical planning, I feel it is time to establish—or more firmly enforce—clear parish guidelines for liturgies celebrated for various needs and occasions, in keeping with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and Sacrosanctum Concilium.

    This year, the principal and 8th grade teacher held a planning meeting without consulting me and selected music independently, including several unsuitable hymn choices. They also proposed that, since none of the graduating students sing in the choir, a student should simply recite the Psalm instead of having it sung by a cantor. I found this concerning and requested an additional meeting to address these issues.

    I am seeking advice on how best to navigate this situation pastorally and professionally while presenting a clear set of parish guidelines that both uphold liturgical norms and provide reasonable options for Mass settings, hymns, and other musical elements.
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,446
    It's all down to the pastor. To whom does he delegate authority to make these decisions? If it's you and he'll stand behind you, then tell the principal and 8th grade teacher to kick rocks. If it's them, suck it up or quit.

    Are they undermining your authority over liturgical music? Absolutely.
    Perhaps you're actually finding out that you don't have authority over liturgical music.
    Thanked by 1Dr_Haze
  • Dr_Haze
    Posts: 22
    Honestly, the Pastor has never been head of a church with a music ministry nor a church with a Pre-K through 8th grade school attached, so it's been a struggle to appeal to his authority when he's learning exactly what that even is. FUN TIMES.
  • TimTheEnchanterTimTheEnchanter
    Posts: 235
    What is your role with the other school Masses?
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,288
    Your pastor needs to clarify your role to the other members of staff. All questions regarding sacred music should be within your purview. The fact that the school is involved determines who is attending the mass, not how it is to be conducted. Sacred music needs are magically put on hold just because the school children are there. Can you tailor your selections a bit? sure. But ultimately, the Mass is the Mass, irrespective of who is in attendance. The psalm doesn't magically get recited—especially when the missal specifically asks for it to be sung whenever possible, and there is a professional musician offering the rest of the music—just because there isn't a children's choir. (*groans deeply*)

    I have had my own struggles in my current post, and it took a bit of bandaid ripping to right the ship, but we are headed in the right direction now. This may be an uncomfortable bandaid moment for you.

    Simply state that the psalm will be sung since that is what the missal prescribes.

    You don't get to tell the other staff members how they teach their classes, and they don't get to tell you how to do Mass music. Be gentle (they are your colleagues) but firm.
    Thanked by 5CHGiffen davido irishtenor novusgordo Dr_Haze
  • Will_Tell
    Posts: 2
    At my old PreK-8th school, I was the music teacher and school choir director, In most years for graduation I actually was the cantor/psalmist with a few other teachers who also liked to sing joined with me. We always sang the psalm as a teacher choir, usually using a Guimont chant. If we had enough singers to harmonize, we did. I would definitely step in if the graduation is taking place on or on the eve of a Feast or Solemnity, since there would definitely need to be appropriate music selections.
  • PaxMelodious
    Posts: 489
    I've been thinking about this. As you are the music teacher, as well as your role with the parish, I think this needs to be approached as a teaching-professional boundaries issue first.

    What are your relationships like with the other teaching staff, usually?
  • Dr_Haze
    Posts: 22
    I've already gone through an unfortunate series of arguments with the Principal who thought as my teaching superior that she could customize the school Liturgies held every Wednesday. She wanted no Latin, no chant, no antiphons, and suggested using Praise and Worship slop found in some of the worst hymnals in publication. This led to a series of difficult meetings with our new Priest who was clearly unprepared for the situation really having to do his homework. Ultimately I held onto control of the Liturgy while also elevating the sound and competency of our growing children's choir, because, who knew, Chant is actually easy and can sound beautiful when done correctly.

    My Parish has guidelines for Ritual Masses and now for Special Needs and Occasions. As we do with Funerals and Weddings, I think everyone will be happy when I submit a document that identifies the areas of the mass that give them options, such as the language of the mass setting, instrumentation, the use of antiphons, a selection of offertory and communion hymns, and the choice of Psalm, but at the same time to also point out the parts of the mass that are non-negotiable. Ultimately the head Pastor has to decide the final Ordo we use, but I'm optimistic that the issue of who is reciting the Psalm will resolve itself, because the argument that "there are no 8th graders in the Choir, so therefore someone should just speak the Psalm" is not a serious argument that can hold up to scrutiny.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 753
    Ultimately I held onto control of the Liturgy while also elevating the sound and competency of our growing children's choir, because, who knew, Chant is actually easy and can sound beautiful when done correctly.

    Children pick up on chant fairly quickly. My friend had her elementary school school students singing chant in Latin quite well.
  • francis
    Posts: 11,361
    My K-8 ALL sing the chant. It is second nature to human beings.
    Thanked by 1a_f_hawkins
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,446
    Good for you for fighting the good fight. It's not easy. If you can keep doing good work in the trenches, it will be a great benefit to those you teach and lead.
    Thanked by 1ServiamScores
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