We are happy to announce that the Society of St Hugh of Cluny will be sponsoring a conference on Tuesday, June 27th at St. Mary’s church in Norwalk CT. Speaking will be Professor Peter Kwasniewski an John Lamont. The program is as follows:

5:30 PM Solemn Traditional vespers

6:30 PM Presentations by Peter Kwasniewski and John Lamont

8:00 PM Reception

All are welcome – it promises to be a most informative evening with two such distinguished speakers! The topics will involve the New Mass and the Old. We will shortly provide further information.

This four-day intensive course will present pedagogical techniques for teaching Gregorian chant to children and is ideal for Catholic schoolteachers, directors and teachers of religious education, directors of children’s choirs, and parents.

Special emphasis will be placed on the Ward Method, a comprehensive music education method designed to teach sacred music to children. Other topics addressed will include resources for teachers, historical teaching approaches, and the logistics of developing a sacred music program for children.

The course meets from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, July 5–8.
Students are able to take the course for masters-level credit or as an auditor. First-time students of St. Joseph’s Seminary receive a 50% discount off tuition or the audit price.

$250 for 1st-time SJS student – Audit – $500 regular rate

$750 for 1st-time SJS student – 3 credits – $1500 regular tuition rate

Optional room and board at St. Joseph’s Seminary are available for an additional fee.

For more information or to register for the course, please contact Dr. Donna Eschenauer, Associate Academic Dean, at donna.eschenauer@archny.org or (914) 367–8280.

Our Lady of Sacro Monte Society will host a Solemn High Mass with Gregorian chant along with a Grand Italian Festival with authentic Italian entertainment in honor of Our Lady Sacro Monte of Novi Velia, Salerno at her shrine on Sunday, May 21st, 2017, at 11:30 a.m., at Holy Face Monastery, 1697 Route 3 East, Clifton, New Jersey. Following Mass there will be a grand procession on the monastery grounds with the statue of Our Lady, her canopy and authentic Italian candle-houses, all accompanied by the Tony Neglia Italian Feast Band, Italian American singing Maestro Marcantonio Pezzano, and DJ Stefano. Tasty marinated sliced pork sandwiches, sausage and pepper, and Italian pastries for dessert will be sold throughout the day and there will be fun games, such as “Pass the Provolone,” for all ages to enjoy. For more information about this Grand Italian Festival, you can contact us at info@madonnadelsacromonteusa.com or call Pat at 201-658-0775 or visit www.madonnadelsacromonteusa.com.

The Schola Cantorum of St. Mary’s Church, Norwalk, CT, will present a concert this Sunday at 3 pm in the church.  The theme of the concert is “Songs of Love:  Secular and Sacred Victorian Songs and Anthems.”  Under the direction of David Hughes, the Schola Cantorum provides the music every Sunday at the 9:30 Solemn Mass.  This concert is a fund-raising event.  $15 general admission.  $100 special reserved seating.  Sung Vespers will follow the concert at 5 pm.

Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro passed away peacefully early this morning. His Solemn Requiem will be celebrated at St. Mary’s, Norwalk on Easter Tuesday, April 18th, at 11:00 a.m. He will be waked in the church on Monday starting at 1:00 p.m., with Vespers of the Dead to be sung at 8:00 p.m.

(Above) A prayer bead in the form of a skull. Such beads can be snapped open to reveal a miniature scene in each half.

Until May 21 a unique exhibition (Small Wonders: Gothic Boxwood Miniatures) can be seen at the Cloisters in New York. The exhibit includes carved beads (as individual prayer beads or sometimes as part of a large rosary) and miniature altars. The art of such miniatures flourished for only a limited period – say between 1500 – 1536 – and in a limited geographic area – mostly in the Netherlands, with one or two examples from Germany (of course this is modern usage, both countries were at the time within the Holy Roman Empire). Boxwood was a favored material not only because of its suitability for carving but also because it had associations with the Passion and had otherwise symbolic significance. Such beads and altars served to foster private prayer and devotion. Scenes commonly depicted include the Passion, the Nativity, the Mass of St Gregory and in addition a variety of other biblical subjects. “The execution of these prayer beads and diminutive altarpieces is as miraculous as the stories they tell.” (From the notice of the exhibition).

For more details on the Exhibition see HERE.

(Above and below)The scenes contained in the carved beads and miniature altars on display in this exhibit have a diameter or height of only a few inches.

(Above) Miniature altars exhibit the same intricate level of detail that was lavished on the great church altarpieces of that era.

(Above and Below) The Mass of Pope St. Gregory – showing a Eucharistic miracle – was a favorite subject of the boxwood carvers. It also gives us a glimpse of how the mass was celebrated 1500-1530.

(Above) The Mass of Pope St. Gregory as depicted on a bead of the rosary of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

St. Mary’s Church, Norwalk, has advanced to the Faithful Four in the Church Madness competition. View this video and then vote for St. Mary’s at https://artandliturgy.com/2017/03/30/church-madness-2017-faithful-four/

Voting ends on Sunday night.

The video was created by Elizabeth Weaver from photos that have appeared on this website. Audio: The St. Mary’s Schola Cantorum sings the Credo from William Rasar’s Mass “Christe Jesu” (their CD is being released later this month).

Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series:  “Daring To Love The Beautiful One”
The final lecture of the season is on Saturday, April 8th at 7:30 PM. His Excellency, Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, will speak to us about “Daring To Love The Beautiful One.” The event takes place, as always, at the Catholic Center at NYU. Afterwards, meet Bishop Caggiano and make new friends at the wine and cheese. We end the evening with sung Compline.
Bishop Caggiano was born in Brooklyn on Easter Sunday, 1959. He attended Ss. Simon and Jude Elementary School in Gravesend, and Regis High School in Manhattan. He entered Yale University as a political science major, but later decided to enter the priesthood. He earned a B.A. in philosophy from Cathedral College, a M.Div. from Immaculate Conception Seminary, and a licentiate and doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University, Rome. He was named Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, and installed as Fifth Bishop of Bridgeport in 2013.

Admission for Sustaining Members: FREE
Suggested admission for non-members: $10

Sponsored by the Catholic Artists Society

The Art of the Beautiful lecture series is designed to explore how the Catholic Faith informs the arts.

Please note the new time and location

“Songs of Love: Secular and Sacred Victorian Songs and Anthems.”
St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT
Sunday, May 7, 3 pm

Elizabeth Baber Weaver, soprano, member of the St. Mary’s Schola Cantorum

The Parish of St. Mary’s in Norwalk, CT, will feature a rare fundraising concert highlighting the church’s outstanding choir. Repertoire will feature music from the Victorian and Edwardian eras led by Organist and Choirmaster David Hughes.

Charles Weaver, bass, member of the St. Mary’s Schola Cantorum