Views from the Choir Loft

The Wethersfield Institute Chant Workshop

Fr. David Friel · May 6, 2018

HIS JUNE, a wonderful opportunity to sharpen your chanting skills is on offer in New York State. The third annual Wethersfield Institute Chant Workshop will be held from June 25-28, 2018 at a picturesque farm property that sits twenty-five miles northeast of Poughkeepsie, NY.

The focus of this workshop is training in the singing, teaching, and directing of Gregorian chant. The goals of the instructors will be: 1) to provide musical and theological instruction concerning chant, 2) to practice singing and leading chant in Latin and English, and 3) to help participants apply what they have learned to their concrete situation.

Meals and accommodations for participants will be in the historic Wethersfield House. Daily sung Masses and liturgical offices will be celebrated in the house chapel.

This year’s instructors are two Dominican friars of the Province of St. Joseph, Fr. Vincent Ferrer Bagan, O.P. and Fr. Charles Shonk, O.P. Both friars are experienced organists and choral singers.

Father Vincent Ferrer Bagan, O.P. holds an S.T.L. from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, an M.Mus. in sacred choral music from The Catholic University of America, and the B. Mus. in vocal music education from St. Olaf College. Currently, he teaches theology and music at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Father Charles Shonk, O.P. also received an S.T.L. from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, as well as a B.A. in Latin and Philosophy from Denison University. He presently serves as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Church in Columbus, OH.

Anyone interested in attending the Wethersfield Institute Chant Workshop in 2018 should consult the event flyer and complete the application available from the event website.

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

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)

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—Jeff Ostrowski

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On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

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—Corpus Christi Watershed