Epiphany (A • 2026)
Greetings all—
Again, I must thank you all for the tremendous amount of effort you have put in the last few weeks!
Here is our ordo for Epiphany; we will once again keep things on the simpler side this year since so many things occurred in such rapid succession and we did not have a dedicated rehearsal this week.
Saint Michæl the Archangel Prayer
Processional Hymn: Angels from the Realms of Glory (REGENT SQUARE)
Kyrie from Missa de Angelis (Link)
Gloria from Proulx’s Missa Simplex
Psalm 72: Lord, Every Nation on Earth will Adore You! (Playlist)
Gospel Acclamation: Christmastide Alleluia (Same one since Midnight Mass)
Offertory Antiphon: All the kings of the earth shall adore Him… (Source & Summit, recording below)
Offertory Hymn: As With Gladness Men of Old (DIX)
Sanctus & Agnus Dei: Proulx’s Community Mass
Communion Antiphon: “We have seen His star in the east…” (Fr. Weber #295)
Communion Special: Puer Natus in Bethlehem • Scheidt (Playlist)
Communion Hymn: What Child is This (GREENSLEEVES)
Recessional Hymn: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (SALZBURG)
A quick note on the Psalm: this is written with an oriental flair, and features copious parallel intervals which only work well when each part is sung with a certain vigor. Please make sure you are comfortable with your parts, and don’t be afraid to lean in during the deliberate moments where there are crunchy chords.
Offertory:
Communion:
Communion Anthem: Puer Natus in Bethlehem
(same as Surrexit Christus Hodie, but with alternate text)
Recessional Hymn:
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (A • 2026)
Greetings All—
Once again, I commend you on your Christmas performance, and would also like to thank you for singing this past Sunday, so soon after Christmas Eve. Yours is a true ministry, and I am grateful that you are so faithful to it!
Here is our plan for Thursday morning; note that we will warm up just like a normal Sunday (8:45am) to sing for 9:30am Mass. Please also take a moment to listen to the Te Deum if you do not already know it. As a part of the closing of the holy year, this chant is prescribed for us (ie-not optional) and Bishop has asked for the real chant to be sung. I would be grateful if we do a nice job singing it, but this requires you to be familiar with it, at least melodically, which will make getting through the words easier.
Entrance Antiphon Hymn to PLEADING SAVIOR
Kyrie from Missa de Angelis (Video)
Gloria from Missa de Angelis (Video)
Psalm 67, “May God bless us in His mercy.” (Video)
Christmastide Alleluia
Offertory Antiphon: Felix Namque Es (sung by JJR)
Offertory Hymn: poetic rendition of the Memorare set to WINCHESTER OLD
Sanctus & Agnus Dei: Proulx’s Community Mass
Communion Antiphon: Exulta Filia Sion (volunteer chanters who wish to join James are welcome; come prepared) (Video)
Communion Anthem: Christmas Lullaby by Rutter (Video)
Communion Hymn: Sleep, Holy Babe to COVENTRY CAROL (alt.) (mp3 below)
Post Communion Chant: Te Deum (Tonus Solemnus: Video)
Recessional Hymn: Virgin-Born, We Bow Before Thee to ALMA PUERPERA (melody based on Alma Redemptoris Mater) (mp3. below)
*We will just sing unison on the psalm unless it really pulls together during warmups.
Offertory Hymn Tune:
Communion Hymn:
Recessional Hymn:
Holy Family (A • 2025)
Greetings all—
YOU DID A FABULOUS JOB AT MIDNIGHT MASS! It was truly lovely, and Bishop was very happy. It was some of the best singing we have done this year. Well done!
Just like last year, we are going to K.I.S.S. this weekend (“keep it simple, stupid” — or perhaps more politely, “keep it stupidly simple”). The only real thing you’ll need to look at is the Psalm. The ambitious among you can look at Fr. Weber 203 as well.
Hymns are easy things you will be able to sing, and I’ll just have you melody only, and we will sing Gaudete, Christus est Natus as our special piece, and perhaps the St. Michæl prayer as well. We need to get back to that.
Hymns:
Entrance Antiphon Hymn to FOREST GREEN
Offertory Hymn to RUSTINGTON
Communion Hymn: Once in Royal David’s City
Recessional Hymn: Good Christians All Rejoice
Advent IV (A • 2025)
Greetings all—
Here’s our ordo for Advent IV.
Don’t forget, for those who can make it, we have our final rehearsal for Christmas on Tuesday evening. (Would Monday be better?)
Ordinary: Missa XVII (click here for comprehensive practice tracks / videos)
Entrance [Antiphon] Hymn: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus to STUTTGART
Entrance Antiphon: “Let the clouds rain down the Just One and the earth bring forth a Savior.” (Source & Summit)
Psalm: 24 “Let the Lord enter, he is the King of Glory.” (simplified mp3 below)
Gospel Acclamation: Advent Alleluia (Playlist)
Offertory Antiphon: “Hail Mary…” (Simple English Propers) LINK
Offertory Hymn: Mary, the Dawn (mp3 below)
Communion Antiphon: “Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name will be called Emmanuel.” (Fr. Weber #86)
Communion Motet: Ecce Virgo Concipiet LINK
Communion Hymn: Oh! What Light and Glory to PIUS PATER (see below)
Recessional Hymn: Come Thou, Redeemer of the Earth to O HEILAND REISS
Entrance Antiphon Hymn: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Offertory Antiphon:
Communion Antiphon:
Communion Motet:
Communion Hymn:
Recessional Hymn: Come Thou, Redeemer of the Earth
Look Ahead:
Midnight Mass (2025)
Greetings all—
Here commences the mega-list of resources and reference recordings for Christmas Eve, 2025.
A few notes first:
Choir, please be in place and ready to sing by 11pm.
While you have your ordos, I will be interspersing extra organ works to both give your voices a rest and fill additional time. Please don’t be surprised if I start something and it is obviously not the next thing in your books. We WILL go in order of the booklet; I will simply be adding extra things. If it’s extra, just sit tight and the next thing will be what you’re expecting.
On the basic hymns, you can sing parts or simply sing the melody. Just enjoy yourself. I’m only concerned about parts on the special choir pieces.
Sing your hearts out!
(The following resources are not in particular order, and links have not been provided for literally every thing we will be singing, but rather those things with which you are likely to be less familiar.)
Resources:
Away in A Manger (we will sing this ALTERNATE Melody)
Christmas Lullaby – Rutter (see below for ATB dubs)
*Currently we will repeat “A” once we get to “E”.Enixa est Puerpera
*Men sing verses on top, women sing the verses on bottom. Everyone sings the special verse 3.Ding-Dong Merrily on High! Brand new practice tracks! (12/16/25)
*All Women sing the initial Soprano entrance, and all Men sing the Initial Tenor entrance, after which Altos & Basses split off to their respective lines.Gaudete, Christus est Natus (normal speed | “learning speed”)
Puer Natus in Bethlehem (Scheidt)
*Practice tracks are for the Easter text, but the notes are identical.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••HOLY MASS:
Introit: Puer Natus (medieval version, volunteer schola)
Kyrie de Angelis (or: Missa Tribus Vocibus if we can learn it in time)
Gloria de Angelis (Calm Monks or James’s Tempo)
Psalm 96 “Today is born our Savior…” (timestamped in the description)
Christmastide Alleluia (see below for old tracks)
Angels We Have Heard on High
Offertory Antiphon: Lætentur Cæli (volunteer schola)
Sanctus & Agnus Dei from Proulx’s Community Mass (both in this one video)
Communion Antiphon: In splendoribus sanctorum (whole choir)
Silent Night (last verse SATB a cappella)
Joy to the World (with Fanfare Introduction)
[Vierne Finale]
In addition to linking to a wonderful recording of Rutter’s Christmas Lullaby, I am including below the video some shortened tracks where I’ve overdubbed the ATB parts for the “Ave Maria” refrains.
The YouTube playlist for Ding Dong Merrily on High includes both performance speed versions, as well as slowed down “learning speed” versions. There are also ad-free mp3’s embedded below.
Introit, chanted by volunteer schola:
Offertory Antiphon, time permitting, volunteer schola:
Advent III (A • 2025)
Greetings all—
Here’s our ordo for Advent III. My apologies for posting it so late today.
And THANK YOU for a great (and long) rehearsal on Thursday.
As a reminder, we will have two rehearsals this coming week: Tuesday & Thursday. Hopefully a little extra effort this coming week can save us from an extra rehearsal immediately before Christmas.
Ordinary: Missa XVII (click here for comprehensive practice tracks / videos)
Entrance [Antiphon] Hymn: Hark the Glad Sound! to RICHMOND
Entrance Antiphon: See below
Psalm: 146 “Lord, come and save us.” (Playlist)
Gospel Acclamation: Genevan Alleluia
Offertory Antiphon: See below
Offertory Hymn: Comfort, Comfrot ye, My People, to the tune GENEVAN 42
Communion Antiphon: (Fr. Weber #63)
Communion Motet: Tollite Portas (Dalitz)
Communion Hymn: Veni, Veni Emmanuel
Recessional Hymn: People Look East