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Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

The Founding Of Corpus Christi Watershed

Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2013

E LIVE IN AN AGE bereft of truth. If this statement sounds over-the-top, open a newspaper or search Google. Most of what is published from sunup to sundown is sensationalist nonsense. For this reason, I hesitate to relate the following story. All I can do is promise you it’s true.

I first began working for Watershed in 2007 as a part-time employee. As time went on, I was given more and more responsibilities. All my projects were dedicated to the Jesuit Martyrs of North America — St. Isaac Jogues, St. Noël Chabanel, etc. — which was nothing remarkable, since I had been dedicating my work to these martyrs for almost a decade.

Since its founding in 2006, Watershed has undergone many tumultuous changes (which I will not describe here). I’m told by people who have started companies that “rocky beginnings” are not unusual. To make a long story short, it became increasingly obvious to the Board of Directors that our Lord wanted us to focus on the CCW liturgical projects, which were reaching thousands of Catholics and bearing great spiritual fruit. Many wonderful composers from all over the world have volunteered their time to make these successful.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE to learn, in December of 2010, that our 501(c)3 public charity had actually been founded on 19 October 2006, the feast of the North American Martyrs! Someone had first told me this in 2009, but that person wasn’t always reliable, so I didn’t believe what he said. But in 2010 I saw with my own eyes the date assigned to us by the Texas Secretary of State (reproduced on the left side). I even took out several liturgical calendars to make sure this was not a mistake — I’m hard to convince sometimes! Incidentally, 19 October is also the feast day of St. Philip Howard, who was inspired to accept martyrdom by St. Edmund Campion.

To be absolutely clear, the date of 19 October had been chosen by the State of Texas, not us. When one considers all the websites, scores, and videos that had already been dedicated to the North American Martyrs — Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brébeuf, René Goupil, Jean de Lalande, Charles Garnier, Antoine Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, and Noël Chabanel — for more than two years, it strikes me as a remarkable thing.

Through the intercession of the North American Martyrs, may those involved with Corpus Christi Watershed accomplish God’s Holy Will each and every day of their lives.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Jeff Ostrowski

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

If the homily goes on too long, it will affect two characteristic elements of the liturgical celebration: its balance and its rhythm. The words of the preacher must be measured, so that the Lord, more than his minister, will be the center of attention.

— Pope Francis (11/24/2013)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.