The Wynnewood Garage Schola

Well, actually for purposes of today's Mass, we were called Cantabo Deo, but "Wynnewood Garage Schola" sounded like a cool headline. Well, maybe not.

Catholics United for the Faith assembled today at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary here in Philadelphia, and their day-long conference--which focused on holiness--ended with the celebration of the Mass in St. Martin's Chapel. A glorious Baroque building with heavenly acoustics, the seminary chapel is no "garage." Michael Miller, of whom many of you may know, formed a choral group for this Mass--a one time thing, really. (That's another way to form a garage schola; it needn't be a permanent entity.)

Here is our Ordo musicae for this Mass, which was celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Joseph McFadden, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Prelude Music:

Cantate Domino (Pitoni)
Adoramus te, Christe (Dubois)
O Jesu veracissime (anon, 17th c.)
O Bone Jesu (Grancini)
Locus Iste (Bruckner)
Panis Angelicus (Casciolini)
Rise Up, O Men of God (20th c.)
Ave Maria (chant, mode i)
Ave Maria (Arcadelt)
Ego Sum Panis Vivus (Surzynski)
Introit: Salus populi (ultimately, this was cut due to time constraints)

Music for the Mass:

Opening Hymn: Faith of Our Fathers
Kyrie et Gloria: Missa O Quam Gloriosum (Victoria)
Psalm and Alleluia from Respond and Acclaim
Offertory: Perfice gressus meos (F.X. Witt)
Sanctus et Benedictus: O Quam Gloriosum
Agnus Dei: O Quam Gloriosum
Communion: Tu mandasti (mode v)
Panis Angelicus (Lambilotte)
O Sacrum Convivium (Remondi)
Closing Hymn: For All the Saints
Organ Postlude: improvisation on Salus populi

This music was well-received by all, including the bishop, who expressed his gratitude both publicly and privately. I might gratefully note that the bishop sang many of his parts as well. This helps to reinforce the idea that music is an integral part of Mass.