by admin | May 15, 2025 | News
Jesus likewise issues clear directions when he institutes the Eucharist at the Last Supper. What does it mean that God commands this of us? How do we respond in obedience to God? And how can our worship be centered on God — how can it be Christocentric?
We often speak of liturgy as work we do on behalf of others — but it’s really the work of Christ on behalf of others, and we unite ourselves to this saving work of Christ. So how does that happen? And how are we fulfilling the command of God in doing this?
and
As a pastor, I built on one important foundation: No one wants irreverence. The faithful might not always recognize what’s reverent and what’s not, but no one wants irreverence. The point of the “active participation” in the Mass is prayer. It is worship. And whatever fosters an interior life of prayer is what builds up the Church.
Let me confess to you, my brothers and sisters: some of this was selfish. I wanted to be able to actually pray at Mass — not be irritated during it. What many people don’t realize is that for a priest, offering the Mass is the highlight of the day — really, the highlight of our life. But to do it well, a priest must be able to pray — and that requires silence in the liturgy.
I had the joy of attending the Pascha — their Easter Vigil — at Columbus’ Eritrean Catholic church. It was beautiful. I knew nothing of the language, but that didn’t matter. I could still understand what was happening, and I could see how they were worshiping God — and that they were worshiping God. Sacred beauty in the liturgy is a universal language that transcends our differences.
When things are holy and sacred, they are perceived as such by all.
And again: If God is lost, all is lost. So we must keep our eyes and our hearts focused on the Lord. I pray that the Church understands the fundamental unity shared by the last three popes — a unity rooted in the truth that interior, prayerful participation in the Mass is the most important thing we can do.
Read the entire interview over at National Catholic Register.
by admin | May 13, 2025 | News
The second annual Sacred Music Study Day was a great day at CISM, with over 100 people joining us. We heard a talk by Dr. Donelson-Nowicka about the unity effected through sacred music, especially in light of the election of our new Holy Father, Leo XIV, whose motto is “In Illo Uno Unum,” “In Him who is one, we are one.” After a session on group vocal technique, we rehearsed a beautiful Mass ordinary by Paul Jernberg, learned the propers for a Marian votive Mass during paschaltide, and added some great Easter Marian hymns to our repertory. All participants sang for a solemn Mass with archbishop Cordileone, beautifully served by ADSF seminarians. In his homily, the archbishop gave a wonderful catechesis about the power of beauty to draw us into God’s covenant. We had a great lunch together, and about 30 music directors stayed for a session on learning to conduct chant. CISM was so delighted to host so many wonderful singers from all over northern California – thank you for your presence, your prayers, and your voices!
If you missed it this year, be sure to join us next year!
Please enjoy some photos from the day, as posted on our FB page, or our IG account.
by admin | May 1, 2025 | News
Please join the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music in congratulating our founding director, Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, in her promotion to the rank of Professor from Associate Professor!
Congratulations, Dr. Donelson-Nowicka!
by admin | Apr 23, 2025 | News
Learn more about this summer’s Organ Literature course from Prof. Christopher Berry in his recent appearance on CISM’s podcast, Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast.
Listen here.
He outlines strategies for making playing great repertoire every Sunday and feast day possible, even if you’re a really busy parish music director, takes us through some of the foundations for developing a game plan, the role the organist has in cultivating prayerfulness before and after Mass, and how to systematically work through Bach, among other topics.
Don’t miss out on applying for this summer’s classes! The application deadline is next Thursday, May 1st!
Learn more about the Organ Literature class and apply here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/summer-courses/
by admin | Apr 22, 2025 | News
The Adoremus Bulletin has published an article which features an interview with our director, Dr. Donelson-Nowicka, about the upcoming Fons et Culmen Sacred Liturgy Summit.
Read the article here.
Some highlights:
We’re wanting to gather people for a mountaintop experience, the summit experience. When we share together experiences shaped by the utmost that we can muster in terms of liturgical celebration, great preaching, amazing music, the best talks—that that sort of experience produces a number of important spiritual results that we see as a need for people today.
One thing the conference offers is contact with the source and summit of the Christian faith, the sacred liturgy at the most beautiful level that we can muster. This experience then shapes our orientation for all that we do and the decisions we make in our own parishes and schools. It gives us a true north for our compass.
How do we get to where we’re going? First, you have to know where you’re going, and we intend for this to be orientational in that aspect. A lot of times priests and church musicians don’t see what is possible in their parishes and schools because they have a limited, real experience of amazing liturgies.
Maybe a more beautiful liturgy is just something they’re reading about on the Internet, and they know that they want it for their parish and for their people. After they experience it in person, it can give shape to a lot of decisions and the harnessing of resources. That sort of mountaintop experience captivates the imagination and shapes the spirit.
That’s the model that Christ gives us in the Transfiguration. He leads the disciples up the mountain for this amazing experience of the reality of who he is so that they can then descend down the mountain and abide with him on the Via Crucis.
And in the conference talks, we are bringing together people who have profound ideas and are able to communicate them in a compelling way, providing another kind of opportunity for the encounter with Christ, through the persuasive splendor of the truth of what people say. There also is the experience of comradery we offer in how we have meals together, how we interact with each other, and how we build each other up. It’s sharing ideas like how “I did this in my parish and it was really successful,” or “I did this and it didn’t work so well.” Building a network of people who are striving for the same thing as you are helps you feel supported along the way in real world friendships. Online interactions are a good that God gives us, but we have bodies and we need to be together in the same space to really build those friendships.
by admin | Apr 22, 2025 | News
Upon the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music joins all the faithful in prayers for the repose of his soul, and for the will of God to be done in the election of a new supreme pontiff.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Deus, qui inter summos sacerdótes fámulum tuum Francíscum ineffábili tua dispositióne connumerári voluisti: praesta, quáesumus; ut, qui Unigéniti Filii tui vices in terris gerébat, sanctórum tuórum Pontíficum consortio perpétuo aggregétur. Per eundem Christum, Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
God, Who in Thy ineffable providence, did will that Thy servant Francis should be numbered among the high priests, grant, we beseech Thee, that he, who on earth held the place of Thine Only-begotten Son, may be joined forevermore to the fellowship of Thy holy pontiffs. Through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Please join the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music in congratulating our founding director, Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, in her promotion to the rank of Professor from Associate Professor!
Learn more about this summer’s Organ Literature course from Prof. Christopher Berry in his recent appearance on CISM’s podcast, Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast.