“One cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song. Therefore the active participation of the whole people, which is shown in singing, is to be carefully promoted.”
– Instruction on Music in the Liturgy, 16
The role of the cantor in music ministry is so often misunderstood. A cantor is not a soloist (though there are indeed times the cantor sings alone,) but rather the voice of leadership and encouragement to facilitate the song of the entire assembly. It is most definitely NOT the job of the cantor to replace the voice of the congregation as a soloist might be prone to do, but rather to support and uplift the song of the people of God gathered at table. Welcoming and encouraging others to sing, pointing the people toward the proper resources such as hymn numbers, intoning the psalm to instruct the assembly in their response, and yes – singing occasionally alone in the form of a responsorial dialogue WITH the congregation: these are all ways the cantor helps to lead, not replace, the voice of the Church assembled for the liturgy.
Please accept this invitation to participate more fully, more actively, in our parish’s music ministry. If you are interested in singing in the choir, leading the congregation as a cantor, or enriching our liturgy as an instrumentalist, email Shawn Gelzleichter at sgelzleichter@gmail.com or call the rectory at 781-662-8844.