This Sunday at St. Joan of Arc

This Sunday at St. Joan of Arc we'll be having music provided by cantors at the 5:00pm Vigil, and the 7:30am,  9:30am and 12:30pm Masses.  At 10:45 we'll have our contemporary ensemble St. Joan of Roc leading us in song.  The 5:30pm Mass on Sunday evening will be our Choral Mass.

Also this weekend we'll be having a concert on Sunday Evening (March 25th) at 7:00pm as part of our Christian Concert Series.  As with all concerts in our series, admission is free but a free-will offering will be taken up to support the artists involved as well as our parish music program.

The Book of Jonah

Organist Matthew J. Meloche presents this unique concert which will include the reading of the Book of Jonah in its entirety.  Organ music played under the reading will enhance the themes and interludes with organ improvisations will give the listener time to reflect upon the Word of God.  This is not a traditional organ concert – there will be no repertoire or large-scale organ pieces.  Instead, this is a night to hear the Word of God and music combined together for inspiration during this Lenten season.  

We hope to see you there!

YOUTH MINISTRY IRISH MUSIC NIGHT THIS SUNDAY!

We are going to have an Irish music night this Sunday March 11th featuring "The Kells" in the Social Hall. The Kells play traditional Irish music and it will be like a teen coffee house set up only everyone is invited to enjoy the music. We will serve some pizza and soft drinks too. Hope to see you all there!

Check out their Myspace page to hear their music.

http://www.myspace.com/thekellsband/music
Michael A. Barone
SJOAYM

Fish Fry, Concert ON SUNDAY, Sunday Masses

Our Music Department will be hosting the Fish Fry this Friday evening at the Parish.  We hope you will come out and enjoy some good food and fellowship and be served by those who sing/ring to the glory of God at St. Joan of Arc.

This Sunday evening St. Joan of Arc will be hosting the choir from Hamilton College in New York.  Please consider coming out to hear this 70 member choir on Sunday evening (March 11) at 7:30PM.  We are blessed to have them be the first concert in our Christian Concert Series.  We thank our Pastor, Father Raymond Larussa, for his encouragement in our beginning this Christian Concert Series.  All concerts in the series are free to the public, but a collection will be taken to support the artists and the music program at St. Joan of Arc.

On the Third Sunday of Lent (March 10/11), our Choral Mass will be at 10:45AM, we will have cantors at all other Masses, and our handbell choir will enhanse the music at the 5:30PM Sunday Evening Mass.  We hope you come out this and every Sunday to be a part of your parish community and to celebrate Holy Mass.

Music During Lent

Today, Ash Wednesday, begins the season of Lent.

Music during Lent has a different flare from the rest of the year.  You may hear more Gregorian chant than typical.  We won't be ending Holy Mass with a Recessional Hymn, but will instead end in silence.  There may be less instrumental music than what is typically heard.  Songs may express our sorrow for our sins and the depth of our God's forgiveness more often than during the rest of the year.

Lent is a time for us to reflect on our lives and seek to bring ourselves closer to God - let the hymns that are sung during Mass lead us closer as we endeavor to live a righteous life.

On March 11th at 7:30PM we'll be holding a concert by the Hamilton College Choir from New York.  Though this will not be a "Lenten" concert, you may be inspired by the songs used at this concert during the Lenten season.  Please consider coming out and supporting your Parish Music Ministry by attending this event - it is free, but a free-will offering will be collected to support St. Joan of Arc Music.

On March 26th at 7:00PM there will be another concert - during which the Book of Jonah will be read in its entirety.  With short instrumental breaks, one will be able to reflect on the Word of God and on the message of this Book of the Bible which can certainly be a part of one's Lenten journey.  Again, the concert is free but a free-will offering will be taken up.

On Fridays throughout Lent we'll be praying the Stations of the Cross on Friday Evenings at 7:30PM.  This wonderful devotion includes singing parts of the Stabat Mater - the traditional Sequence for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.  Come and join in song as we reflect on Mary, watching her Son and our Lord crucified.  Each evening will end with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament during which the traditional hymn O Salutaris and the traditional chant Tantum Ergo are sung.  There is no better way to enter into this holy season than by praying the Stations of the Cross and then being able to receive Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament!

We hope to see you at these events - be sure to check out the bulletin for further information on opportunities for spiritual growth during Lent.

One Year Ago Today...

One year ago today I was given a key, a tour of the building, and a role as leader of the music program at St. Joan of Arc. It has been a great pleasuring serving this church and I will continue to give my best in running this wonderful program.  Since arriving, I am very proud of our efforts in establishing a Children's Handbell Choir, expanding the Parish Choir, Teen Band, Cantor Program and Children's Choirs, establishing a Christian Concert Series, having a weekly page in the parish bulletin to keep folks engaged in and informed about our music program, and hopefully leading members of our music program closer to Christ and His Church.  I would like to thank our Pastor, Father Raymond Larussa, for his help with our program, as well as my colleagues Paula Vasey and Val Galaktionov who are so very talented and valued here at St. Joan of Arc.


In the next several months, great musical events will happen at St. Joan of Arc.

Tom Booth (a liturgical musician and composer) will present our Parish Mission.
Pergolesi's Stabat Mater will be performed in concert on March 11th.
We will read the Book of Jonah at an organ concert on March 25th.
Holy Week, with its unique liturgies and music, will take place during the first week of April.

Are you looking to meet new friends in the parish?
Do you love music and want to share your gifts with the world?
Join us!  Ring a bell, sing with a choir, raise your voice as a cantor or play an instrument!
No matter what your talent - we'll find a place for you.

God bless,
Matthew J. Meloche