Cantor Program    

Music has been an active and integral part of the liturgy since the very beginning of the parish and it has long been considered necessary to establish a Cantor program to proclaim the Psalm and Gospel Acclamation during the Liturgy of the Word at Mass and to lead the congregation in prayer and song.
In service to our Church and this, our parish community, our Cantors lead us in prayerful song at all Masses and Holy Days of Obligation. Our Cantor program is coordinated by Minister of Music, Dan Doxzen.
We are always on the look-out for good, strong voices to take on this very important leadership role in our liturgies. Come, sing a new song unto the Lord! Become a Cantor. Orientation and training will be provided.

SaintThomas à Becket Cantors

John Scalea	Dan Doxzen	Elena Melchert	Christine Dunne
		See *Policy for Publishing Photographs of minors
Micki Hamilton		Lauren Bailey Cantor-in-training	How About You?

Policy for publishing information/photographs for minor children: It is the policy of this parish to never connect a photograph of a child with that child's name, address or any other personally identifiable information. Children may be shown in group photographs of parish events, celebrations and liturgies provided that their names are not "captioned". If a child's name is published as part of a ministry, parish position or particular purpose, their picture will not be published. Protecting our children is most important and we appreciate your understanding and support in helping us in this regard.

D. H. Doxzen, Jr., Parish Webmaster

Guidelines for Music in Liturgy

Liturgical law requires the use of music on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation, but the complete absence of singing on weekdays should be guarded against. (40) A re-emphasis on the privileged place of Gregorian chant as "more proper to the Roman liturgy" is included, though "other kind of sacred music, polyphony in particular, are not in any way to be excluded, provided that they correspond with the spirit of the liturgical action and that they foster the participation of all the faithful." (41)

A preference for singing many parts of the Mass is expressed in the new Institutio by the introduction of the phrase "is either sung or recited" at the profession of faith (137), the Lamb of God (155), Preface (216), the Kyrie (125) and the Gloria. (126) Songs or hymns may never be substituted for either the Agnus Dei or the other chants of the Mass. (366) Finally, more specific direction for the use of the organ during Advent (used with moderation) and Lent (permitted for accompanying sustained singing) is included. (313)

Silence
The institutio's section on sacred silence has been expanded, recommending that "even before the celebration itself, it is praiseworthy for silence to be observed in church, in the sacristy and adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves for the sacred rites which are to be enacted in a devout and fitting manner." (45) Admonishing that the Liturgy of the Word "must be celebrated in such a way as to promote meditation," (56) the Institutio cautions against "any kind of haste which impedes recollection" and recommends brief moments of silence throughout the liturgy, especially after the readings and the homily so that the word of God may be "taken into the heart by the fostering of the Holy Spirit." (56)