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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 • “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
    “Rare Photographs” • Hannibal Bugnini
    On 2 September 2025, we included in this article extremely rare photographs of Archbishop Hannibal Bugnini taken in Iran circa 1979. Bugnini had initially been banished by the pope to Uruguay, but he refused to obey. [This is interesting, since Bugnini relied upon ‘blind obedience’ when it came to modifications of the ancient liturgy.] After he refused to obey the order from the pope, Hannibal Bugnini was banished to Iran. You can also watch a short video of Hannibal Bugnini in Iran, dated 10 November 1979. That’s about a week after the USA embassy hostage crisis began in Tehran, and Pope Saint John Paul II had sent the leader of the Iranian Revolution a special letter.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
    I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“But when all aids to a good translation of the Psalms have been made use of, it often happens, from various causes, that some words or phrases of a Psalm remain obscure or unintelligible to the reader. Then it is that explanatory Notes become necessary.”

— Father Charles J. Callan (who founded “The Homiletic and Pastoral Review”)

Recent Posts

  • “Reminder” — Month of May (2026)
  • “Englished” Gregorian Chant • 5 Considerations
  • Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)
  • PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 4 May 2026

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