Corpus Christi

The Ft. Worth Schola Gregoriana was asked to sing for at Immaculate Conception Parish in Denton for today on the Feast of Corpus Christi, June 6. Fr. Alfredo Barba called and invited the schola to sing for the first Mass of a newly ordained priest's (Fr. Amado Vallejo Garcia) first Mass there. The parish is much larger than San Mateo, with approximately 1200 parishioners at the 1:15 p.m. Mass.

We thought we would have to be splitting our forces because of the distance between the parishes and the Mass times. However, our wonderful, generous priest at San Mateo urged us to all sing for the Mass in Denton. The music plan:

Introit: Cibavit eos
Kyrie/Gloria: Mass VIII
Responsorial Psalm: Simple chanted Spanish (Mode 8)
Sequence (shortened version -- Ecce panis)
Alleluia: Caro mea (Chants Abreges)
Offertory: O Victima de salvacion (O Salutaris Hostia) 2 verses Spanish, 2 verses Latin
Offertory Proper: Portas caeli
Salve Regina (during incensation)
Sanctus/Agnus Dei: Mass IX
Communion: Hoc Corpus
Post-Communion: Anima Christi
Closing: Christus Vincit

Singing for the first time in a new place is always a bit nerve-wracking the first time, but all went well. The people there were so warm and welcoming and helped us a great deal. In fact, some of the musicians that sing for that Mass normally joined with us in a few of the chants with which they were familiar. In addition, since it was such a large number of people at Mass, they sang an additional song in Spanish during offertory and Communion.

Nineteen children received their First Holy Communion during Mass... we all received the special blessing given on the occasion of the first Mass of a newly ordained priest... it was a wonderful day. We ended Mass with one of our favorites (that we rarely get to sing) -- the Christus Vincit. I'm not sure anyone else enjoyed it as much as the schola did... it was a noisy, happy group of people leaving the church, so they may not have even heard it...

Final note: We received several very nice compliments about our singing there and may have even sparked some interest in getting another schola going in that area. A parishioner approached me about learning to sing chant after Mass. We are going to be in contact and see how we can work that out. It is a bit of a drive from where I live, but I'd be very happy to help get a group going and make the trek to help them -- I just probably can't do it every week.

God is good.