Sunday Mass is the most regular liturgical celebration in the parish.
The primary aim of choosing music to be sung is to help the gathered assembly to ‘find its voice’ in a way that reflects the sacred time and texts of the Mass. Here are some places where musicians may find appropriate music resources for each Sunday or Feast.
Within the Sunday Mass there is a priority of texts to be sung. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal is the main source for this information and describes more fully the role and purpose of singing each of these parts of the Mass.
The 6 sections offered below will help you to see which parts of the Mass need to be your priority when you are preparing music for the Mass so we may respond to the Word and give thanks to God most worthily.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Directory of Liturgical Music for Aotearoa New Zealand
Music and the Mass: A Practical Guide for Ministers of Music. Second edition David Haas
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As you seek ways to enable our musical prayer, remember that your role as a minister of music is to encourage and support the song of the assembly. Know your community, study the liturgy you serve, practise your role, and thank you for using your talents among us. The Church places great value on the music of the liturgy. May all that you do enable the shared responsibility of all who celebrate to enter actively into the prayer of the liturgy.
Begin with the readings and texts of the day, be mindful of images from the Word that can be reflected in your musical choices. When assessing the appropriateness of sacred music for the liturgy, other considerations would include:
Below is a list of helpful sites.
Suggestions for music to be used for seasons, compiled by Judith Courtney, Liturgy Advisor / Music Support, Auckland Catholic Liturgy Centre HERE
This resource is designed for groups who prepare Sunday liturgies or who wish to use the Church's Sunday Scriptures as their guide. It may also be useful to catechists and parish teams preparing catechumens and candidates for the sacraments of Christian initiation. This can be found HERE
The Living Liturgy Music resources will now require subscription to be used in New Zealand. If you want to continue to receive and use this resource we encourage you to purchase a subscription to this resource.
Br Michael has written a collection of chants for various seasons and occasions. Go to www.maristmusic.org.au downloadable sheet music and audio files.
Preparing Liturgy
Click "Preparing the Liturgy" from the left hand menu.
Music is a way of reaching the heart when words fail and is an important part of the Liturgy.
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Knowing how to introduce new music to your church is key to ensuring the assembly’s participation and maintaining the sanity of the music ministers in your community. This great resource shows musicians how to introduce new songs through four quick tips. Click Here to view the resource.
The Auckland Liturgy Office also suggests music for specific times. To view the suggestions for music within Liturgy HERE
If you a looking for frequently used waiata in liturgies there is a useful selection from the Auckland Liturgy Office. Click here.
A useful article has been written concerning singing at Mass. Click here to read.