Saint Elizabeth Seton Music Ministry

 

Music Ministry News

The Children Sing of the Christ Child
Invitation to Join Youth Choirs
Triduum (Easter) Choir Invitation

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR’S DESK...

 During the week of July 18, I attended the NPM [National Pastoral Musicians] Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.  Pam Hardiman, the fabric artist who has made our colorful banners and flags, invited me to attend the convention with her and assist at her booth. Her work was unique and well received; Pam was one of the few visual artists there. Most of the vendors were music/liturgy publishers and organ companies. I did get to hear speakers, attend workshops and participate in the music reading sessions sponsored by the major music publishers.

 One of the highlights of the week was a concert to honor the St. Louis Jesuits, the music group that revolutionized music in the American Catholic Church after Vatican II. Their wonderful songs, based on scripture, are as rich and prayerful as they were 30 years ago!  All five composers/musicians were there and performed some of their ‘hits’  (enthusiastically sung by the nearly 3,000 attending) – One Bread, One Body; City of God; The Cry of the Poor; Be Not Afraid; Though the Mountains May Fall; etc.  This group rarely gets together to sing their beloved music, so this was quite an event to have seen. Their music had a profound effect on me as I started my journey in music ministry. SES parishioners sing their music enthusiastically as well!

 The primary focus of this convention was the revised Roman Missal, which will be implemented this year on the first week of Advent. The 3,000 musicians, music directors, priests and liturgists who attended heard how this revision came to be and how best to implement the changes that are coming. Fortunately, our pastoral staff has been planning and will be introducing our parish to these issues soon. Our music ministry will be reading through new and revised Mass music settings in August to choose a few that will best suit our parish.

 Earlier this year, I was invited to participate in a search committee sponsored by the Archdiocese of Hartford under the direction of Ezequiel Menendez, music director for the diocese and organist at St. Joseph Cathedral. We read through many Mass settings and chose ten, which we presented to parish musicians in a few locations in the Hartford Diocese.  Most of the nation’s dioceses are hoping that one or two Mass settings will eventually become “universal” so that we can sing familiar settings of the HOLY, HOLY/ MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION, AMEN, LAMB OF GOD no matter where in the nation’s Catholic churches we go. Right now, one common music setting is MASS OF CREATION by Mary Haugen, which we use here at St. Elizabeth Seton Church - #885 in our Breaking Bread hymnals.

 For those of us who are on ‘auto pilot’, this is a great opportunity to refresh our hearing, speaking and singing of our words of faith.

Elizabeth V. Husmer


Choir Opportunities
for Children,
Teens and Adults!

 

 

Youth Choir:   rehearses on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM.  presently, the members in grades 3 - 8 have are preparing for Christmas Eve mass.

Rehearsals begin on September 22. 
Sign up in the foyer of the church or see Music Director.

Teens:  Our 9:30 Music Ministry team has gained some new teen members over the last few years and more are welcome, especially male singers!  Guitarists and percussionist are needed as well.  This group rehearses at 8:45 AM on Sundays before the 9:30 mass.  Training sessions are available if needed.  Speak to the Music Director or any of the 9:30 team if interested.

 

 

If you have any questions
or have an interest in joining any of these choirs,
speak to Music Director, Elizabeth V. Husmer
or email to ElizabethHusmer@StESetonChurch.org

 

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 In June 2010, eleven children from St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Rocky Hill, Connecticut gathered in their church
to record twelve beloved Christmas Carols.  Their director, Elizabeth V. Husmer, has long believed that these song treasures
are in danger of being lost to the secular holiday songs that children are more apt to hear lots of during the Christmas season.

 These enthusiastic singers and their families generously gave time to rehearse and record with hopes that this effort
would encourage many other children and their families to sing along and keep a wonderful tradition of singing carols going.
We hope that you will enjoy listening to the voices and songs, but the greater goal is to sing along and keep the story
of the birth of Jesus the focus of Christmas.

 This CD will be available for purchase in late November at St. Elizabeth Seton parish! 

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Elizabeth V. Husmer, Music Director

 
 
 

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