Music is the universal language. Music, from the beginning of time, has been able to inspire mankind. Music can speak to us in a language that we can all appreciate and enjoy. Music cuts through languages and cultures, and touches the hearts of all mankind.
We at St. Thomas More feel that music has a most important role in the worship of God. Music has power. We have always placed a high value on music. We know what touches our hearts and moves our spirits. Good music and congregational singing can do that, and, so much more. Music that touches our hearts will elevate our appreciation of God and draw us closer to Him and to each other.
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in their document, “Sing to the Lord,” expressed it this way: “Within the gathered assembly, the role of the congregation is especially important. The full and active participation of all the people is the aim to be considered before all else.”
St. Thomas More values music and encourages everyone to participate.
The Adult Choir forms the nucleus of the parish music program. The Adult Choir is made up of dedicated men and women who provide their talents to enhance the Liturgy for all parishioners. St. Thomas More’s Choir provides inspirational song that enables us to appreciate the blessings of God. Their hard work and ongoing dedication elevates the Liturgy providing a deeper realization of our communion with Him.
The role of the Choir was reinforced in and through the documents of the Second Vatican Council. The Council stressed that Choirs must be diligently promoted while ensuring that the “the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute to that active participation which is rightly theirs.”
St. Thomas More’s Choir leads the way in inspiring us to actively participate in the Liturgy.
The Adult Choir can be enjoyed at the 10:30 a.m. Liturgy on Sundays and all major feasts.
Rehearsals are held on Thursdays, September through June at 7:30 p.m., in the Church.
The Choir presents two major concerts a year. The Annual Christmas Concert is held on the last Saturday evening of the Christmas Season. The Spring Concert is a mixture of popular and classical music and was named the Musical Potpourri in 1988. The Spring Concert is held on Saturday evening the weekend of Pentecost.
Adult Choir rehearsals are at 7:30 p.m., Thursday evenings from mid-September through mid-June.
The Cantor chants the verses of the Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation, the invocations of the Kyrie and the Agnus Dei. Cantors are selected from the Adult Choir. Cantors minister on a rotating basis.
People love to hear children sing. When enough children volunteer, we have a Children's Choir. They sing twice a month, October through Easter Sunday at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Liturgy. Once a year the Children’s Choir joins the Adult Choir at the 10:30 a.m. Liturgy.
The Children’s Choir is made up of children from grades three through eight.
Children’s Choir rehearsals are at 4:45 p.m., Thursday afternoons from mid-October through Easter.
Handbells have been used from the earliest times in the Church. They have been used for both festive celebrations and solemn occasions. In the Middle Ages, monks used handbells to highlight specific moments in the Mass. Unfortunately over the years handbells have disappeared from regular and scheduled use.
The reintroduction of handbells today demonstrates they can be used in a variety of ways. Handbells enhance the liturgical music with their beautiful sound, and they lend their unique tone to quiet moments of meditation and reflection. Currently handbells are used on occasion when specific music calls for them.
A complete handbell choir requires fourteen dedicated members. With an adequate number of volunteers, and a more formalized approach, the handbell choir could become an intricate part of the music program of St. Thomas More.
The Handbell Choir is open to all adults and high school students. Basic music reading skills are necessary.
Instruments add to the solemnity and celebration of our Liturgy. The most suitable instruments to be played during the Mass are any of the woodwinds and those of the brass and string families. These added instruments enrich the musical experience for all.
St. Thomas More welcomes all adults or advanced students in music to share in this ministry.