• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
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

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It would be contrary to the Constitution to decree or even to hint that sung celebrations, especially of the Mass, should be in Latin.

— Annibale Bugnini attacking “Sacrosanctum Concilium” (§36)

Recent Posts

  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
  • PDF Download • Belgian Book of Gregorian Accompaniments (Official Edition)
  • Don’t You Agree About These?
  • Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
  • Crucial Tip For Choir Directors

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

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.