Sacred Music
“Sacred music, being created for the celebration of divine worship, is endowed with a certain holy sincerity of form.”
(Sacrosanctum Concilium, 112)
Check out our Sacred Music Minutes
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Choirs
Each of our four beautiful churches has its own open-membership volunteer choir which sings for weekend Masses. These choirs rehearse weekly and learn proper antiphons and beautiful hymns to adorn each Mass.
For special parish-wide events throughout the year (e.g. Confirmation, Festival of Lessons & Carols, etc.), these four choirs join together as the Combined Choirs of St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish to unite our parish music program in collaboration and musical worship.
Additionally, our parish has a chamber choir dedicated to singing the great polyphonic music of the Catholic Church’s tradition. This smaller group of experienced singers brings the works of composers like Palestrina, Victoria, Tallis, and more to all four of our churches.
The Organ
Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 120: “In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.”
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish is blessed to have organs in three of our four churches, including two pipe organs. Additionally, we are blessed with nine accompanists who generously serve the parish!
Holy Redeemer features a beautiful unaltered Felgemaker tracker (mechanical) organ, Opus 964, built in 1908. While it is not a large instrument, it effortlessly fills the beautiful sanctuary to accompany the choir and congregation. Have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66kpZwdhvt0
The 13-rank pipe organ at St. Mary was built in 1956 by Wicks, Opus 3638. The organ has unfortunately suffered electronic damage to its control systems and is currently not in use. A temporary Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ of 38 stops was installed and will serve the church until funds can be raised to replace the Wicks organ with a more suitable instrument for the excellent acoustic at St. Mary’s. A sample of the existing Wicks when it was still in use can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CiRgQ51fYc
St. Peter in Chains features a three-manual Johannus digital organ.
How to Get Involved
Are you interested in joining one of our parish choirs? Are you an organist interested in serving the parish? We’d love to have you! Please contact our Director of Sacred Music at ptorsell@sciotocatholic.org.
Sacred Music in the Catholic Tradition
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
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CCC 1156:
“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this preeminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.”
Second Vatican Council – Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963)
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SC 112:
“Sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites.”
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SC 116:
“The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.”
Pope St. Pius X – Tra le Sollecitudini (1903)
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No. 1:
“Sacred music, being an integral part of the solemn liturgy, participates in its general object, which is the glory of God and the sanctification and edification of the faithful.”
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No. 2 (Three qualities of sacred music):
“Sacred music must possess, in the highest degree, the qualities proper to the liturgy, namely: holiness, goodness of form (true art), and universality.”
Pope Pius XII – Musicae Sacrae Disciplina (1955)
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Intro:
“The dignity and lofty purpose of sacred music consists in the fact that it adds greater efficacy to the text, so that through it the faithful may be more deeply moved to devotion and better disposed to receive the fruits of grace belonging to the celebration of the most holy mysteries.”
