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December 6 is Choir & Chanter Appreciation Sunday

Music is a divine act and science concerned with tones, which aids us in expressing the sentiments of the heart by means of voice and instruments. —S.J. Savas

So he who sings well puts his soul in tune, correcting by degrees its faulty rhythm, so that at last, being truly natural and integrated, it has fear of nothing, but in peaceful freedom from all vain imaginings may apply itself with greater longing to the good things to come. For a soul rightly ordered by chanting the sacred word forgets its own afflictions and contemplates with joy the things of Christ alone. —St. Athanasius, The Letter of St. Athanasius to Marcellinus on the Interpretation of Psalms.

 

A Message From Christopher Holwey

Chairman, Department of Sacred Music

 

Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray all is well.

This is simply a quick reminder to you that this coming Sunday, December 6th, is the Sunday that we honor our chanters and choir members throughout our Archdiocese. It is known as Choir & Chanter Appreciation Sunday.

So therefore, I would like to ask that you do something in recognition of the choir members and chanters in your parish. It might be a special acknowledgement of thanks after Liturgy, or a coffee hour planned in their honor, or whatever else you might creatively think to do for them. As you know, we not only need our priests for each and every service that is done in the Church, but we also need someone, or a group of people--our dedicated chanters and choir members--there to chant and sing the responses and special hymns for whichever service is being offered. They are a vital part of every service that is prayed. As Metropolitan ANTONY, of thrice-blessed memory, once said, “A church without a choir is like a body without a soul.”

 I pray that God will continue to bless you in your ministry of love to His People, and I thank you for all the encouragement and inspiration you offer to your choir members and chanters throughout the year, and especially on this Sunday.

 

Yours in Christ,

Christopher Holwey

Chairman, Sacred Music Department