Our parish repertoire for congregational singing is drawn almost entirely from the Catholic Community Hymnal in our pews. Music is chosen by our music director in consultation with our pastor, director of liturgy, Musica Sacra Workgroup, and Music Ministry Steering Committee, and in reference to all of the rubrics and norms in force under Church law. These choices are further influenced by short- and long-term pastoral planning at the parish level.
In light of the forthcoming new translation of the Roman Missal, our pastoral plan for congregational singing at Mass involves:
1) Use of a limited, well-known body of hymns and songs for the Entrance Song, Offertory Song, Communion Song, and most often a song after the Dismissal (customary, but not an official part of the Mass).
2) Use of limited, well-crafted and durable settings of the unchanging (Ordinary) texts of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Alleluia, Sanctus, Mystery of Faith, Amen and Agnus Dei). We will revise this repertoire after the implementation of the new Missal. In order to facilitate learning and catechesis around the new translation, we seek to introduce and reinforce familiarity with the typical (Latin) versions of these texts, e.g. Gloria and Sanctus.
3) Gradual introduction of chanting the ritual texts of the Mass (greetings, dialogues, prayers), beginning with those elements that are not expected to change with the new translation.
