St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

The 7:30 a.m. Mass
Gregorian Chant Schola

Our Mission

Our schola's mission is guided by the directive of the Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium 116) that Gregorian chant "should be given pride of place in liturgical services, although other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded." The schola sings English hymns from the classical tradition, along with sacred polyphony, but plainchant is given "pride of place" in our repertoire. We seek through our voices to make our parish's worship a spiritually and artistically worthy sacrifice of praise to the Living God.

History of the Schola

The Gregorian Chant Schola was founded in July of 2005 and first sang publicly soon after on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15). The schola began serving the 7:30 Sunday Mass on October 16, 2005. We sing year round on Sundays, and occasionally at feasts and special events, which have included professions of the Dominican Laity and the liturgies of Christmas and Holy Week. Our membership, which includes both university students and parishioners of all ages, has grown from the original 6 to over 15 voices.

New members are always welcome! Chant was not written for professional performers, but for the average voice that desires to praise God in humble song. Just come to one of the events below and introduce yourself, or contact one of the schola leaders below for information.

Regularly Scheduled Events

Sung Parish Mass: Sunday, 7:30 a.m., in the Church
Pot-Luck Brunch: first Sunday of each month, after the 7:30 a.m. Mass, in the Community Room of the Parish Center. Open to all friends of Gregorian chant and the Schola.
Rehearsals: Mondays, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., in the Music Room. Also before the 7:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays, beginning at 6:45 a.m.

Gregorian Chant and Latin Resources

The Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium 36, 54) decreed that "the use of Latin is to be preserved in the Latin Rite" and that "steps be taken so that the faithful may be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them." The schola promotes congregational singing of the Ordinary chants (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) and provides booklets with the words, translations, and music of these chants whenever they sing at Mass. These booklets may be found on the baptismal font in the church before Mass.

The schola also maintains a Lending Library of Gregorian Chant books and compact disks in the Music Practice Room of the Parish Hall. Parishioners are free to borrow these recordings and books so long as they check them out properly and return them promptly.

Links for Gregorian Chant and Catholic Liturgy on the Web

Church Music Association of America
http://www.musicasacra.com/

CanticaNOVA Publications
http://www.canticanova.com/

Chant Links at the Gregorian Schola of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Fayetteville AR
http://comp.uark.edu/~rlee/otherchant.html

Gregorian Chant Home Page of Prof. Peter Jeffery of Princeton University
http://www.music.princeton.edu/chant_html/

The Gregorian Association of London
http://www.beaufort.demon.co.uk/chant.htm

Chant Links at Canticum Novum
http://interletras.com/canticum/Eng/Links.htm

Order chant books from the Benedictine Monastery of Solesmes (in French)
http://www.solesmes.com/FR/livres/catalogue.php?js=1&par=JmZjPTEwJmNjPTgmbGc9RlI

Order Video of the Solemn Dominican Rite High Mass from the Rosary Center in Portland OR (scroll down)
https://secure.www.pacifier.com/rosary-center.org/nresource.htm#videos

Schola Leaders and Contacts

Leslie Johnson Co-Director	phone: 979-5535 email
Gregory Saathoff Co-Director	email
James Sivley Organist	phone: 293-6016 email
Fr. Dominic Langevin, O.P. Spiritual Promoter (in situ)
Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P. Spiritual Promoter (in absentia)

Our Lady, pray for us!
Saint Dominic, pray for us!
Saint Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!
Saint Gregory the Great, pray for us!

Commedite pinguia et bibite mulsum!

The 7:30 a.m. Mass Gregorian Chant Schola

The 7:30 a.m. Mass
Gregorian Chant Schola