Views from the Choir Loft

My New Assignment—Part 1

Andrew Leung · September 24, 2015

AM VERY SAD—but happy at the same time—to announce that I am leaving my current position at St. Pius X Catholic Church, here in Conyers, Georgia. Recently, I started the seminarian application process with the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio and have been assigned by His Excellency, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton (Steubenville’s Ordinary) to BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH in Wintersville, OH, where I will be doing a pastoral year and continue my discernment “full-time”. If it is God’s will, I will be entering the seminary to study next fall.

I have been serving Mass and involved in church music for over ten years now. I have always loved the Liturgy of the Roman Rite. For the past five years, I’ve been singing for the Extraordinary Form Mass and have witnessed—so many times—priests falling in love with the Liturgy after High Masses. They have always described it as an “incredible,” prayerful, and peaceful experience. Please pray for me as I continue to discern my vocation to the priesthood and hopefully, by the grace of God, I can celebrate the Holy Mass one day. I hope to continue being involved in Sacred Music, even though I won’t be serving as a music director. I will do my best to keep contributing to this blog regularly.

NE THING I am definitely going to miss about Conyers is the Monastery. I have been teaching Gregorian Chant to a group of Cistercian monks who are very passionate in rediscovering their musical tradition. This past year, we have explored basic vocal techniques, Solfège, and authentic interpretation of Gregorian Chant. I was also asked to teach a GREGORIAN CHANT APPRECIATION course to the novices over the summer. I had the last class with the monks yesterday and we had a great chant rehearsal. They definitely learned and grew tremendously this year. Below is a recording of the Terribilis est locus iste (Introit for the Anniversary of the Dedication of a church) from the rehearsal yesterday:

* * Mp3 Audio • TERRIBILIS EST LOCUS by Cistercian Monks

When I first got here, all they knew was simplified chant in English. This is what they have accomplished in a year, despite the quality of my phone recorder.

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

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski