Music
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“One cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song” Musicam Sacram 16
At St David’s great care is taken in preparing the music used in the liturgy, and the assembly takes its rightful part in singing the Mass. We are “a people brought together in unity by Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ .. holy in its origin, growing constantly in holiness by conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist. “ GIRM 5
As part of the assembly we are fortunate to have parishioners who act as cantors, choir members and instrumentalists. Our choir’s primary function is to lead the assembly in song thereby encouraging the people’s prayer.
The choir
St David’s choir help to lead the singing at the 11 o’clock Mass on a Sunday. They are part of the assembly and encourage everyone to participate and take their rightful part in the Mass.
Practices are arranged as required. Please contact any member of the choir for more information. All welcome!
This is what the Church says about the importance of singing:
The Christian faithful who come together as one in expectation of the Lord’s coming are instructed by the Apostle Paul to sing together Psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles (cf. Col 3: 16).
Singing is the sign of the heart’s joy (cf. Acts 2:46). Thus St Augustine says rightly, ‘Singing is for one who loves.’ There is also the ancient proverb: ‘One who sings well prays twice.’
Great importance should therefore be attached to the use of singing in the celebration of the Mass, with due consideration for the culture of the people and abilities of each liturgical assembly. Although it is not always necessary (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all the texts that are of themselves meant to be sung, every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.
In the choosing of the parts to be sung preference should be given to those that are of greater importance and especially to those to be sung by the priest or the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the priest and people together.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 39-40
Society of Saint Gregory
Liturgy and Music alive in the Church today
The Society of Saint Gregory (SSG) is the national society for liturgy and music in the Roman Catholic Church in the British Isles. It was founded in 1929, continues to flourish and is delighted to welcome Christians of any denomination who seek to achieve similar aims through liturgy, music and the arts. St. David's Parish has group membership of the Society of St. Gregory.
Whatever your role in the liturgy, you're very welcome.
The National Network of Pastoral Musicians
The National Network of Pastoral Musicians is an organisation consisting of people around the UK who are committed in some way to church music. It is totally ecumenical and open to all.
Taizé
The Taizé Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations. By its very existence, the community is a “parable of community” that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.
The brothers of the community live solely by their work. They do not accept donations. In the same way, they do not accept personal inheritances for themselves; the community gives them to the very poor.
Liturgy Office England & Wales
The Liturgy Office serves the work of the Department for Christian Life and Worship of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales providing resources, information and advice.