On Monday, December 9th, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan kicked off their year-long festival, Palestrina500, with a Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Grand Rapids and sung by the parish’s choirs.
The Most Reverend David Walkowiak celebrated a Novus Ordo Mass concelebrated by the parish’s pastor, Fr. Ronnie P. Floyd, STL, pastors emeriti Fr. Robert Sirico and Fr. Donald Lomasiewicz, and priest-in-residence Fr. John Bosco Ssekkomo, and assisted by two deacons, the Rev’d Mr. Robert McClintic and the Rev’d Mr. Richard Fish. Almost 600 of the faithful were present, leaving standing room only.
The choral ensemble consisted of two combined choirs: the volunteer Sacred Heart parish choir and Gaudete Grand Rapids, a semi-professional choir of 16 voices. Both choirs were conducted by Mr. Jonathan Bading, the director of music.
Gaudete sang the Kyrie, Gloria, and Agnus Dei from Palestrina’s Missa de Beata Virgine à 4, which they will sing in its entirety for the September 15th Palestrina500 event. They also sang the “Ave Maria à 5” for the Offertory. The parish choir joined them for the Magnificat primi toni à 4 at communion and the composer’s perennial setting of the Alma Redemptoris Mater at the conclusion of Mass, with Gaudete singing the Choir II portion from the triforum of the church.
This Monday, January 6th, Sacred Heart will welcome its first visiting choir, Schola Antiqua of Chicago, who will be singing an hour-long choral meditation at 5:30pm and the Missa Alma Redemptoris Mater for the Solemn Mass of the Epiphany at 7pm. For the full schedule of Palestrina500 events, go to palestrina500.org.
Some video footage: recap/Kyrie from the Missa de Beata Virgine:
The Most Reverend David Walkowiak celebrated a Novus Ordo Mass concelebrated by the parish’s pastor, Fr. Ronnie P. Floyd, STL, pastors emeriti Fr. Robert Sirico and Fr. Donald Lomasiewicz, and priest-in-residence Fr. John Bosco Ssekkomo, and assisted by two deacons, the Rev’d Mr. Robert McClintic and the Rev’d Mr. Richard Fish. Almost 600 of the faithful were present, leaving standing room only.
Gaudete sang the Kyrie, Gloria, and Agnus Dei from Palestrina’s Missa de Beata Virgine à 4, which they will sing in its entirety for the September 15th Palestrina500 event. They also sang the “Ave Maria à 5” for the Offertory. The parish choir joined them for the Magnificat primi toni à 4 at communion and the composer’s perennial setting of the Alma Redemptoris Mater at the conclusion of Mass, with Gaudete singing the Choir II portion from the triforum of the church.
Some video footage: recap/Kyrie from the Missa de Beata Virgine:
Magnificat primi toni à 4:
