For the congregation:

Hymnals and Singing during Covid-19

Parishioners are welcome to use their personal copies of Breaking Bread during Mass. Copies are available at the back of the church for you to take away. (A $1 donation is welcome.) Please be sure to take your copies home with you after every Mass.

Diocesan policy during the pandemic remains that congregational singing must be limited. We don’t want to do anything that could put the health of any parishioners at risk or jeopardize our ability to continue to celebrate Mass in person. It is true that “he who sings, prays twice” (St. Augustine), as it is also true that “the praise of God exists in the heart rather than on the lips” (St. Thomas Aquinas). Thank you for singing very softly with your mask on, or for singing along silently in your heart.

“Even when listening to…the singing of the choir, the assembly continues to participate actively as they ‘unite themselves interiorly to what the ministers or choir sing, so that by listening to them they may raise their minds to God.’” (Musicam sacram, no. 15; Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, no. 12)

For cantors and choir members:

We invite singers who can sing pleasantly and in tune to join us. It is not necessary to have experience singing in a choir or to read music; however, some musical background or ability to read music is often very helpful. Singers are encouraged Come sing with us!

• Under ordinary circumstances, we have choirs at both Sunday morning Masses from September to Pentecost. These choirs meet for a weekly rehearsal and sing together for Christmas, Easter, and our patronal feast, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Choir members also may elect to be on the call-list for funerals.
• During Covid-19, liturgical singing is being led by a single, masked cantor singing from within a plexiglass isolation booth in the choir loft.

For more information about joining a choir or to be a cantor, please contact Matthew Hall (mh968@cornell.edu).