Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy. —(Psalm 100)

According to the documents on the liturgy, “Among the many signs and symbols used by the Church to celebrate its faith, music is of preeminent importance.” The music ministry at St. Joseph’s seeks to actively preserve the rich heritage of liturgical music as well as to explore new musical directions that befit the spirit and dignity of the liturgy. Choirs, cantors and musicians are not performing at the liturgy, but enhancing it by leading the assembly in sung prayer. Our parish is fortunate to have many opportunities for people to use their gift of music in our music ministry program.

The Adult Choir sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass and consists of enthusiastic singers of various age groups ranging from teens to long-time veterans. Their repertoire ranges from traditional to modern and they truly make a joyful sound unto the Lord. The 9:00 AM Family Mass features a small group of children and young people who lead our families in song. We are also fortunate to have a gifted group of cantors who serve at most of our Sunday, Holy day and special occasion liturgies, as well as at funerals and weddings. Instrumentalists are also important to our music ministry and support the song of the assembly and choirs.

Nothing is more important to our music ministry however, than the voices of those in the assembly joining together in song. Whether you sing in one of our choirs or join in from your seat in the assembly you should, in the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch, “form yourselves into a choir; so that in perfect harmony, and taking our pitch from God, you may sing in true unison and with one voice, as strings of a harp, to the Father through Jesus Christ”.