Recommended resources for Pastoral Musicians:
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The best resource any parish music group has (other than yourselves) is the hymnal used in your parish! By optimising the way you use your hymnal, you have the opportunity to enhance the Sunday liturgy in your own parish and encourage ‘full, conscious and active participation’.

The Liturgy Commission have offered days of reflection to assist those involved in Parish Music groups/ folk groups to make full use of the resources they have to hand as well as to recommend other sources to enhance celebration.

A few useful tools for preparation include:

The Archdiocesan Committee for Music: St. Mungo music have recently updated and renewed their website. More information is currently being added. Parish musicians will find this an excellent resource for music, midi files, and ideas.

“The Liturgy Planner”, published by Decani Music, is produced quarterly and as well as containing useful articles and reflections on the seasons and on liturgical music, it provides suggestions for what to sing on each Sunday or Feast day of the year.

The Society of St. Gregory publishes “Music and Liturgy” quarterly. It is also a useful journal and reflects on the liturgy with regular articles from Chris Walker, Allen Morris, Joseph Gelineau, Paul Inwood, and others. They even provide a free sample to those interested in taking out a subscription!

APPRECIATING YOUR ROLE AS A PARISH MUSICIAN:

For a little background reading on the ministry of pastoral musician, a few publications spring immediately to mind:

“Music in the Mission of the Church”, Andrew Maries, John L. Bell, Jan Michael Joncas, Decani books, Suffolk, 1996.

“Preparing Music for Celebration” in ‘Preparing for Liturgy’, Heather Reid, The Liturgical Press, Toronto, 1996.

 The English & Welsh Bishops Liturgy Office  offer a useful guide to what and when to sing at Mass .

If you find these resources useful or would like to see more here, get in touch!

liturgy@onetel.com