T IS TRUE that we have to keep the end goal of whatever it is we are trying to accomplish in mind. For example, most of us pray and work for the day when beautiful sung liturgies are de rigueur, not simply because we like it that way, but because the Church, in Her concern for us as Her children, teaches us that this is best for the good of the entire Family of God. However, it is going to take a lot of baby steps to accomplish such a goal, and in case you haven’t seen it, I want to blog about a resource for parishes with schools that are just starting out on the way to better liturgy and music during school Masses.
The American Federation of Pueri Cantores and the National Catholic Education Association have teamed up and put together a list (here) of appropriate Mass settings and hymns for use at Catholic school Masses. Small though it is, the list represents a solid foundation of hymns that a child in any Catholic school should know, without trying to throw in questionable material for the sake of political correctness. One large benefit I see coming from such a list is that pastors now have a selection of music from an “official source” to give to their school music teachers in order to open a conversation and plot a course for music at school Masses. Pastors and music directors, this is for you!
