Music Ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Richard Jeric, Director of Music
(937) 644-6020 x103
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St. Gregory the Great Choristers
Pope from 590-604, St. Gregory the Great is the namesake for Gregorian Chant, the traditional music of the Catholic Church. This chant, centuries in the making before and which continued to evolve well beyond the life of St. Gregory, became more universally standardized and codified during his papacy. His writings and homilies continue to impact our Church, and many of the reforms to the Mass he implemented are still in effect today. St. Gregory is frequently depicted with a dove hovering near his ear because his scribe witnessed him conveying what the Holy Spirit as a dove communicated to him. He is the patron saint of musicians, singers, teachers, and students.
The St. Gregory the Great Choristers is the primary choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Any adult is welcome to sing with us. No ability to read music is required, though it will be helpful in preparing for our Masses. We rehearse Wednesdays in the church from 7:00-8:30pm. We sing at the 9:00 Mass on Sunday, and we rotate to another Mass time for the fourth Sunday of the month. The Choristers also sing for Christmas, the Sacred Triduum, Holy Days of Obligation, Confirmation, and other Masses throughout the church year as needed. If you feel called to serve our parish in song, please consider joining us. Contact Richard Jeric with any questions.
St. Gregory the Great, pray for us!
St. Cecilia Cherubs
St. Cecilia lived in the early part of the third century. At her wedding, she sang to God in her heart, and He blessed her with a powerful witness to the faith through her preaching. She converted hundreds of people, including her husband and his brother. St. Cecilia was martyred for her faith, and she is one of seven virgin martyrs listed in the Canon of the Mass. Her body was exhumed in 1599, and it was found to be incorrupt with the fragrance of flowers surrounding her coffin. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, church music, and poets, and she is frequently depicted with an organ due to this patronage.
The St. Cecilia Cherubs welcome any child in grades 1-6 to sing with us. No ability to read music is required. We rehearse Sundays in the church from 1:00-1:45pm. We sing once per month at the 9:00 Mass. If your child loves to sing, please consider allowing them to be part of this ministry. Contact Richard Jeric with any questions.
St. Cecilia, pray for us!
St. John Paul II Youth Choir
One of the longest-serving pontiffs in history (1978-2005), St. John Paul II left a lasting imprint on the modern Catholic Church. He traveled to an astonishing 129 countries, was outspoken against communism in his native Poland and apartheid in South Africa, defended all life from conception to natural death, instituted and promoted Diving Mercy Sunday, and sought to bring together religions of the world by recognizing what unites them to each other. A lover of youth, he founded World Youth Day in 1985, and it has continued to grow since his death. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI, and canonized by Pope Francis. He is the patron saint of young Catholics and families.
The St. John Paul II Youth Choir is open to all youth in grades 7-12. No ability to read music is needed but only an enthusiasm for musical worship in the Mass. We rehearse Tuesdays in the church from 7:00-8:00pm. We sing once per month at the 11:30 Mass on Sunday. Those who play instruments are welcome and encouraged to join. Contact Richard Jeric with any questions.
St. John Paul II, pray for us!
St. Hildegard Cantors
St. Hildegard’s contributions extend beyond the Catholic Church and into many facets of society. A Benedictine abbess in the 12th century, she was a scientist, medical practitioner, writer, and philosopher in addition to being a prolific composer and poet. She had visions of light from God beginning when she was three years old, and her spirituality was summarized by the phrase umbra viventis lucis (reflection of the living light). Because her vocal music and poetry is an expression of her profound faith, St. Hildegard is the perfect model for cantors who guide us to deeper spirituality through the music and poetry we sing at Mass. She is one of only four women to be named a Doctor of the Church, and she is the patron saint of musicians and writers.
Anyone who feels called to be one of our St. Hildegard Cantors should contact Richard Jeric. Though a cantor’s primary role is to encourage the congregation to pray through song at the Mass, a cantor should feel confident to sing alone, especially the Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation. Rehearsals are arranged during the week or immediately prior to their assigned Mass, and the schedule is made one month in advance.
St. Hildegard, pray for us!
St. Lazarus Resurrection Choir
St. Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Martha and Mary and friend of Jesus, is raised from the dead in the Gospel of St. John after being in the tomb for four days. One of the shortest verses in the entire Bible is included in this miracle: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), but even He felt the pain of loss at the death of His friend. May we find comfort in Jesus’ mourning, knowing that He has conquered death and hoping for a share in His resurrection.
The St. Lazarus Resurrection Choir offers support to those mourning the loss of a loved one through music at the Mass for Christian Burial. The choir does not rehearse but only convenes at these Masses as needed. If interested in being part of this ministry, please contact Richard Jeric. Emails will be sent out to the members of this choir prior to any funeral.
St. Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, pray for us!
Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, pray for us!
