The First Mass for Artists

Continuing our coverage of Sunday’s “events”, the Catholic Artists Society sponsored its first Solemn High Mass for Artists at Our Saviour’s Church on Park Avenue in New York. A capacity congregation, very proficient in singing the responses, filled the church. But that seems to be the rule for Solemn Masses at this parish. David Hughes and the schola of St. Mary’s Norwalk provided the music  – need we say that it was splendid? (Missa super Credidi Propter by Orlando di Lasso and works by Palestrina, Philips, Vaughan Williams, Bach and Messiaen)

Mr. Eddy Torribio was Master of Ceremonies.

The celebrant (and superlative preacher) was Fr. George Rutler. Father Michael Barone was the deacon and Fr. Joseph Koterski, SJ the subdeacon.

Kevin Collins, the leader of this evening’s exceedingly well organized proceedings, introduced the speaker, Fr. Koterski.

Fr. Koterski provided a much needed presentation on the Ignatian approach to the examination of conscience. The audience was enthusiastic.

As already noted, there always seems to be a full house for a Solemn mass at Our Saviour’s. But the Catholic Artists Society has succeeded in bringing most of them down to the lecture hall as well. It was heartening to see so many artists – and would-be artists – especially given the nonexistent Catholic presence in the arts in New York. Perhaps these artists have only been waiting for something like the Catholic Artists Society to come along to draw them all out of the woodwork. In any case, we will be hearing more from this Society in the near future…..

In attendance was artist Ken Woo, who painted all of the beautiful icons in this church. His Christ is in the apse (at top) and the angel on the arch over the sanctuary(above)