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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Speaks About Roman Missal, Third Edition

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

OST REVEREND Arthur J. Serratelli, Bishop of Patterson, NJ, is a member of ICEL and Vox Clara. He is well-known for his expertise in liturgical and scriptural matters. He’s also very funny and energetic. The following talk (November, 2011) was made available by Mount St. Mary’s Seminary:

      * *  Bishop Serratelli • New Roman Missal

The entire speech is fascinating, and it has a lot of “zingers” which I won’t spoil. He also mentions some sad realities. For instance, he says major catechesis is needed because none of the children who approach him for Confirmation can tell him anything about the Mass, except that “it’s a celebration.”

At the end, Bishop Serratelli answers questions. He notes that the previous ICEL translation avoided words like “soul” and “grace.” If you forgot what the old ICEL translation looked like, click on these:

      * *  Example #1 — The old (discredited) ICEL translation

      * *  Example #2 — The old (discredited) ICEL translation

I find it very cool that Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Serratelli (among others) sometimes offer the Extraordinary Form:

NEWS FROM NOVEMBER 2013

Cardinal DiNardo was elected to chair the Committee on Divine Worship, but his election as Vice-President of the USCCB prevented him from assuming leadership of the committee. Therefore, the bishops elected Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, to chair the committee beginning 14 November 2013. Bishop Serratelli previously chaired the committee from 2007-2010.

BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP SERRATELLI

Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 18, 1944, the son of Eva Fasolino and the late Pio Serratelli. He attended Ann Street School in Newark and completed his grammar school education at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Newark. He then attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and Seton Hall University in South Orange. He studied for two years at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and then at the North American College in Rome. While in Rome, he did his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Scripture studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Seton Hall University in 1965, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in 1969, a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Biblical Institute in 1976, and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in 1977.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1968, Bishop Serratelli served for one year as parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish, Belleville. He taught Systematic Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary for two years and then returned to Rome for higher studies. From 1977 until 2002, he taught Sacred Scripture and biblical languages at the seminary. He was Rector of St. Andrew’s College Seminary at Seton Hall University from 1997-2000.

He also taught at the Redemptorist Seminary in Esopus, New York; St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York; the Institute of Religious Studies, Archdiocese of New York; and the lay ministry program of the Educational Program Service of Trinity College, Washington. Bishop Serratelli has been active in giving retreats to priests and religious, diocesan convocations and lectures throughout the United States. He had also been a weekend assistant in Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Franklin Lakes, and served in Holy Family Parish, Nutley and Saint Anthony Parish, Passaic.

His Holiness, Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of Honor in 1998. His appointment as Titular Bishop of Enera and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark was announced on July 3, 2000. His Episcopal Ordination was celebrated on September 8, 2000. He was appointed Vicar for Ministries, Regional Bishop for Essex County, and Vicar for the Apostolates and Education shortly thereafter. In March 2002, he was appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Newark. He was installed as Paterson’s seventh bishop on July 6, 2004 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Paterson.

As a member of the USCCB in Washington, Bishop Serratelli serves as chairman of the Committee on Divine Worship and member of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee for the Review of Scripture Translations. He is also the chairman of the International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and member of the Vox Clara Commission. Bishop Serratelli also serves on the Task Force for the Review of the Lectionary, Ad hoc Committee for the Review of the Catechism and the Ad hoc Committee for the Spanish Bible for the Church in America.

IF YOU STILL HAVEN’T HEARD ENOUGH, George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, delivered this address at a Rome conference marking the 50th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium. (Courtesy of ZENIT.)

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Bishop Arthur J Serratelli Vox Clara Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”
    Yesterday morning, I recorded myself singing the ENTRANCE CHANT for Pentecost Sunday while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. Click here to see how that came out. At the end of the antiphon, there’s a triple Allelúja and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration. The organ accompaniment—along with the musical score for singers—can be downloaded free of charge at the flourishing feasts website. For the record, the antiphon on Pentecost Sunday doesn’t come from a psalm; it comes from the book of Wisdom.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”
    Over the past few years, I’ve been harmonizing all the vernacular plainsong Introit settings by the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP. This coming Sunday—10 May 2026—is the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A). The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.” However, I’d rank this accompaniment as my best yet. In this rehearsal video, I attempt to sing it while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. The musical score [for singers] as well as my organ accompaniment can be downloaded free of charge from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 4 May 2026
    A few days ago, the CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED Facebook page posted this Gregorian Chant quiz regarding a rubric for the SEQUENCE for the feast of Corpus Christi: “Lauda Sion Salvatórem.” There is no audience more intelligent than ours—yet surprisingly nobody has been able to guess the rubric. Drop me an email with the right answer, and I’ll affirm your brilliance to everyone I encounter!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”
    Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of May (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)
    I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It is difficult to imagine a more unjust situation than abortion, and it is very difficult to speak of obsession in a matter such as this, where we are dealing with a fundamental imperative of every good conscience—the defense of the right to life of an innocent and defenseless human being.”

— Pope St. John Paul II

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  • PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”
  • “Reminder” — Month of May (2026)
  • “Englished” Gregorian Chant • 5 Considerations

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