Clarion Call: Chrism Mass Choir • St. Augustine Cathedral (2026)
Sign up for the 2026 Chrism Mass diocesan Choir, as well as access the practice materials to help you prepare from home.
Greetings all—
If you are on this page, then you are interested in (or committed to) singing at the 2026 Chrism Mass at St. Augustine’s Cathedral, Kalamazoo. Thank you, and welcome!
Please Note: The Chrism Mass will be held at
2:00pm Tuesday, March 31st.
Just as with last year, I understand that this may preclude some people from being able to attend. (The chancery has decided on this time because Mass is done early enough for the priests to attend a fraternal dinner, and then still be able to drive home at a reasonable hour.)
If you would like to join the diocesan choir for this event, please fill out the following form to let me know you are coming, so I can prepare a packet for you.
Practice tracks are available below the form to help you prepare from home. If you have sung with us in the past, the ordo is the same as last year, excepting the Gospel Acclamation.
Attire will simply be “Sunday best”.
We will have a warmup rehearsal at 11am-12pm in the Church the day of Chrism Mass. At noon, we will move to the multipurpose room in the rectory to round off any loose ends, and take our lunch. Subway-style sandwhiches will be provided, or you may pack your own lunch.
If you have any questions for me, please send me an email.
I look forward to singing with you all!
Processional Hymn:
Church of God, Elect and Glorious
Sung to the tune of “Abbots Leigh”. Here is a demo of that tune:
The Entrance Antiphon will be sung after the processional hymn.
Gloria: Missa VIII (‘de Angelis’)
Note: we will sing it with more energy than this (and a faster tempo) but this is a good practice track in terms of being very clear, with each phrase is easy to hear and digest. We will also sing in alternatim with the congregation; that is: we will sing every other phrase as a choir alone, with the congregation responding on the next phrase.
Psalm: 89(88) “Forever I will Sing…”
Please Note: the demo edition here features different verse text from that which is sung at the Chrism Mass, however the music is the same. (Click here to see the version with correct verse text.)
Gospel Acclamation:
“Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.”
Please learn your harmony for the REFRAIN ONLY. The verse text for the Chrism Mass is set to a Gregorian psalm tone, and there is a separate recording of the verse further down this list.
For the refrain you may use the MP3’s embedded below, or click on the following hyperlinks to be taken to a practice track video on YouTube for your particular voice part:
Chanted Verse:
Chant during the Procession of the Oils:
O Redeemer, Hear This Anthem
If you are new to chanting, do not fear! We will be singing in English, and I will support you with a gentle organ accompaniment. Do listen to this a few different times to really get a feel for the flow of the chant. In particular, note the groupings of twos and threes.
Offertory Motet:
Anima Christi • Dominican Liturgical Center
(Score)
Here is the official recording of this work. Please note that the edition we will sing has a few minor modifications.
Ordinary:
Please Note: The first “Sanctus” and “Agnus Dei” will be intoned by the cantor alone, with all joining in after the asterisk (just like in the recordings). This is known as an “incipit” and is a exceedingly ancient practice.
And while many churches know the Sanctus & Agnus Dei, very few actually sing the Mysterium Fidei (Mystery of Faith), so please make sure you are comfortable with that one.
Communion Antiphon
Verses will be chanted antiphonally between men and women. You sing each reciting tone and only apply the formula once the font changes.
There are additional verses, not shown in this preview image.
Communion Motet: If Ye Love Me • Tallis
Everyone’s favorite… and you likely have all sung it before!
You can find individual voice practice tracks below. (Score)
Communion Hymn:
I Dwell a Captive of This Heart
To the tune of Thomas Tallis’s “Third Mode Melody”. (Score) Here is a lovely rendition of this famous tune, however we will be singing a different text from that which is featured in the recording.
And here is an organ-only version of Mr. Richardson playing so you can get a feel for exactly what our flow will be. Note the difference between the phrases that end on three beats, verses those that only have two and a lift (tick mark).
And lastly, here are basic S/A/T/B practice tracks where each voice part is soloed out on “La” for easy learning.
Saint Michæl the Archangel Prayer
I hope that you will come to love this one just as much as we do! Here’s a thrilling way to sing the St. Michæl prayer that is sure to bring a smile to your face as it does to ours. (Score)
The key to singing this prayer is to use natural, speech rhythm. Please listen to the recordings once or twice over to really get a feel for the flow, since not every rhythm is notated.
You may use the MP3’s embedded below, or click on the following hyperlinks to be taken to a practice track video on YouTube for your particular voice part. (Sopranos, I did my best!)
Recessional Hymn:
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim!
Sung to the tune of “Laudate Dominum” by Parry. Here is a demo of that tune:
Lent IV (A • 2026) “Lætare
Greetings all—
Before we get started: Chrism Mass is Tuesday, March 31, at 2pm (11am warmup). Please plan attend if you can! More details to follow in the next day or two. It will be substantially the same as last year.
As a fun aside, here’s a throwback to last year when Stephanie and Tony went with me to Holy Family Radio where we discussed Sacred Music in general, as well as St. A’s. Here’s the link if you missed it last year:
Here is our ordo for this weekend:
Entrance Antiphon Hymn:Rejoice, Jerusalem, Rejoice! to ELLACOMBE
Entrance Antiphon: Source & Summit (mp3 below)
Missa XVII (a full suite of practice tracks are available here or on the Cathedral website here)
Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd… (Playlist)
Gospel Acclamation: (no change)
Offertory Antiphon: Fr. Weber; James will chant.
Offertory (Antiphon) Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty LOBE DEN HERREN
Communion Antiphon: Fr. Weber #469 (Video)
Communion Motet: Miserere Mei by Lotti (Playlist)
Communion Hymn: Behold, the Blind Their Sight Receive to NEUMARK (mp3 below)
Recessional Hymn: To Christ, the Prince of Peace to the tune SWABIA
Source & Summit
A Note about the Psalm:
The refrain is the same, however there are simplified / shortened verses in the demo edition, so really, these tracks are only properly useful for the refrain itself.
Recessional Hymn Tune:
Look ahead resources:
Some practice tracks: (piano booping over a recording)
Lent III (A • 2026)
Greetings all—
Here’s our Ordo for this weekend.
Here is our ordo for this weekend:
Entrance Antiphon: Source & Summit (mp3 below)
Missa XVII (a full suite of practice tracks are available here or on the Cathedral website here)
Psalm 95 (90): If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Video)
NB: the practice track has a different translation, but the music is the same.
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acclamation II (Playlist)
Offertory Antiphon: Fr. Weber; James will chant.
Offertory Antiphon Hymn: The precepts of the Lord are Right to THIRD MODE MELODY (Playlist)
Communion Antiphon: Qui Biberit Aquam (Video, mp3 below)
Communion Hymn 1: Attende Domine (Video)
Communion Hymn 2: My Jesus, As Thou Wilt to the tune PASSION CHORALE
Recessional Hymn: From the Depths We Cry To Thee to the tune HEINLEIN
Source & Summit; Verse 2 is previewed in the demo.
Offertory Hymn Tune:
New this week: I’ve made comprehensive practice tracks for Tallis’ Third Mode Melody, sung on “La”, so it will help with any text we sing to this tune.
Communion Antiphon:
Communion Hymn Tunes:
Recessional Hymn Tune:
Some practice tracks: (piano booping over a recording)
Lent II (A • 2026)
Greetings all—
Here is our ordo for this weekend:
Entrance Antiphon: Source & Summit (mp3 below)
Missa XVII (a full suite of practice tracks are available here or on the Cathedral website here)
Psalm 33: Lord, let your mercy be upon us as we place our trust in you. (Playlist)
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acclamation II (Playlist)
Offertory Antiphon: Meditabor in mandatis tuis (Video, mp3 below)
Offertory Hymn: Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here to SWABIA
Communion Antiphon: Visionem Quam Vidistis (English Adaptation) (Video)
Communion Motet: O Salutaris Hostia • Perosi (Playlist)
Communion Hymn: On Tabor’s Top the Saviour Stood to the tune VIVIFICA ME (mp3 below)
Recessional Hymn: O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair! to the tune DEO GRACIAS (S/A/T/B mp3’s below)
Source & Summit
NB: the practice tracks are older, so the verses are not SATB, but the refrains are.
Offertory
Communion
Recessional Hymn
Lent I (A • 2026)
Greetings all—
Thanks for your had work for Ash Wednesday and for sticking around on empty tummies to get ready for Lent I. You all are troopers and did me proud! Here is our ordo for this weekend:
Entrance Antiphon: Source & Summit (see below)
Missa XVII (a full suite of practice tracks are available here or on the Cathedral website here)
Psalm 51: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. (Practice Track)
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acc. II (JJR) Praise to you… (Playlist)
Offertory Hymn: Jesus, tempted in the desert, to the tune EBENEZER (Practice Track)
Communion Antiphon: Fr. Weber #380 (see below for special practice tracks)
Communion Special: Exaltabo te, Domine (Playlist)
Communion Hymn: My Jesus, Say What Wretch Has Dared to the tune THIRD MODE MELODY
Recessional Hymn: Forty Days and Forty Nights to the tune HEINLEIN
Source & Summit
Offertory Hymn Tune
Since this week’s communio is a bit more difficult than is typical, there are a few tracks here which are separated out:
Normal demo of the Communio
a slowed down “repeat after me” style just like we did at rehearsal
a separate quick demo of the first two verses
Avail yourselves accordingly. 😅
As an aside, I challenged myself with the task of making a vernacular adaptation of the original Gregorian Communio for Lent I. Here it is if you’re interested. We will sing it next year.
Communion Hymn Tune
Recessional Hymn
Lent II Look Ahead
Ash Wednesday (2026)
Greetings all—
As a reminder, mass will be at 5:00pm. I know that this is an awkward time; just get there when you can, and we will do the best we can with whoever we have. I will be in the loft by 4:30pm to warmup with those who are able to come ahead of time.
Entrance Antiphon: You are merciful to all, O Lord…
*NB: we will only chant the antiphon.[No Kyrie, because the Penitential act is omitted, since the distribution of ashes takes its place, and no Gloria, since it is omitted for all of Lent.]
Psalm 51: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. (Video)
Lenten Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Distribution of Ashes:
The Choir will go down for ashes immediately during the first two antiphons, cutting to the front of the line like during communion.Antiphon 1: Fr. Weber JJR
Antiphon 2: Fr. Weber JJR
Antiphon 3: Dele, Domine, Iniquitatem Meam – English transcription of the chant from the Graduale Simplex (see below). Men chant odd verses, women chant even verses.
Offertory Hymn: O Lord, You Gaze with Mercy (PASSION CHORALE)
Ordinary (a.k.a. “Mass Parts”): Missa Simplex (Mass XVIII)
Communion Antiphon: He who ponders the law of the Lord…
*NB: the antiphon is in the worship aid for all to sing.Communion “Hymn”: Parce Domine (harmonized chant with cantored verses)
Recessional Hymn: Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days (ST. FLAVIAN)
Entrance Antiphon
(Source: Source & Summit Missal)
Psalm
Gospel Acclamation
Distribution of Ashes:
I will chant the first two antiphons from Fr. Weber while the choir receives ashes, and then we will chant the english transcription of Dele, Domine, iniquitatem meam (“Blot out, Lord, all my iniquities.”) with men on odd verses and women on even.
Offertory Hymn Tune
Ordinary
Communion Antiphon
(Source: Source & Summit Gradual)