Service of Advent Lessons and Carols

Here are some images of the Advent Service held on Friday, December 10 at St. Mary’s Church Norwalk, CT. It was a carefully stuctured program of readings and music, proceeding in general terms from the simple to the more complex. It gave St. Marys’ a chance to show off the musical program of the parish, which includes:
1. The professional Schola Cantorum (polyphony and Gregorian propers at the Sunday Traditional Solemn Mass);
2. The volunteer St. Mary’s choir (Polyphony, some Gregorian propers and English Hymns for the Sunday 11:30 “Ordinary Form” mass;
3. The volunteer Spanish choir (Gregorian Ordinary and Spanish hymns for the 1:15 “Ordinary Form” Spanish Mass);
4. No less than four students’ choirs( beginning, intermediate, advanced and polyphonic schola) which sing approximately once a month at the Sunday Solemn Traditional Mass alongside the professional schola.

All of these choirs and scholas participated in this Advent service. In addition, the congregation joined in the singing of some of the carols and hymns. Finally, the solo organ was represented by several pieces by Messiaen, Widor and Walther. Mr. David J. Hughes, the organist and choirmaster of St. Mary’s, led the assembled musical forces. The service concluded with Benediction.

At St. Mary’s,  the musical program is not “added on” to the religious services but is an integral component of them and of the educational mission of the parish as well.