These photos are courtesy of Fr. Cyprian La Pastina.

Holy Thursday: The Altar of Repose

Easter Sunday

Photos courtesy of Mr. Arrys Ortanez.  More photos of this Mass can be found on http://traditionalcatholicism83.blogspot.com/2014/04/holy-saturday-easter-vigil-2014-holy.html

“Vidi Aquam…”

The schola of St. Mary’s performing plainchant (above) and polyphony (below). This Holy Week exhibited the extraordinary depth and variety of the music program of St. Mary’s – all under the direction of Mr. David Hughes. In addition to the professional schola (the St Cecilia Society),  the parish adult choir,  the children’s schola, the clergy, other ministers and congregation  also participated. The music included chant, polyphony (here, on Easter Sunday, the Missa Pascale of La Rue), early baroque, later works by Vierne and Durufle as well as original compositions by Mr. Hughes. I perhaps do not need to mention in regard to this parish that all ceremonies were liturgically complete and correct. It is an amazing accomplishment for a diocesan parish church without a significant musical endowment and, for that matter, one that vastly exceeds the musical level prevailing at most Catholic churches in the now faintly remembered “pre-conciliar” age.

The Paschal Fire

The Exsultet

The Prophecies are sung      

The blessing of the font

The catechumens are baptized

The Confirmations  

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass begins

As the Gloria is sung, statues are uncovered and the church fully lit.

Proclamation of the Gospel  

The Canon

The altar is incensed during the Office of Lauds

We wish you a blessed Easter

This window appears in St. Columba Church, Manhattan

The complete plainsong office of Matins and Lauds for Holy Thursday, sung at St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday, April 16.

The blessing of palms and the procession.

Gloria, Laus et Honor…cantors within the church sing. The subdeacon then bangs on the church doors three times with the foot of the cross, the doors are opened and the procession enters.

Mr. David Hughes conducts the assembled forces of the choirs and scholae of St. Mary’s parish.

A Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated today in St. Mary’s Church Norwalk, for the repose of the soul of Kathryn (Kay) Luff, who passed away on April 7. Father Richard Cipolla was the celebrant.  The music, including the “Officium Defunctorum a 6” by Tomas Luis de Victoria, was performed by a schola under the direction of David Hughes.