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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

What Do Catholic Teenagers Sing?

Fr. David Friel · August 20, 2017

RIESTLY ministry is incredibly varied. In just over six years, priesthood has taken me to soccer sidelines, finance council meetings, Penance services, block parties, middle-of-the-night deathbeds, prison visits, Pre-K classrooms, gravesides, beef-and-beers, two World Youth Days, countless Communion calls, crime scenes, and much, much more.

Amidst all the variety, one thing that has been a constant for me as a priest has been involvement in youth & young adult ministry. This continuous connection to young people has, for me, been welcome. It has also given me a perspective on the Church’s approach to youth ministry that is both enthusiastic and critical.

I would like to expound upon that part of my perspective which is critical. Allow me to do so by means of a story.

This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful program for high school-aged boys and girls. All of the nearly 100 participants were Catholic, and their commitment to the faith could be described as above average. They hailed from across the United States, and they represented a wide assortment of educational backgrounds, including public/charter schools, Catholic/Christian schools, and homeschooling. Their talents and interests were as diverse as one might expect in a group of 100 teenagers.

Something interesting happened during a Mass that was celebrated during this youth program. All the teenagers were present, along with a handful of adults, and there were a number of priests concelebrating.

After Communion, the main celebrant of the Mass invited the other priests to join him in singing the Salve Regina. This invitation was accompanied by a lengthy, nearly apologetic explanation to the teenagers of what they were about to hear. Assuming that the young people would know none of the Latin, he encouraged them to follow along by praying the Hail, Holy Queen in their hearts.

The priest intoned the Salve Regina, and about half of the congregation sang along lustily.

After the final blessing, the person playing the guitar and leading the music invited everyone to sing the recessional hymn, Shine, Jesus, Shine. This invitation was accompanied by no further direction. Assuming that the young people would chime right in, the guitarist strummed a few chords and broke into the refrain.

No one but the guitarist and some of the priests even opened their mouths.

I interpret this experience as anecdotal evidence of something that I believe is generally true: the typical practicing Catholic teenager of today is more likely to know the Salve Regina than Shine, Jesus, Shine (or any number of other songs from a bygone era).

The point is that young people are often nowhere near where their priests, catechists, music ministers, and youth group leaders think they are. We would do well as a Church to admit that to ourselves and then work toward bridging the gap.

When the decision is made to sing something at Mass “for the kids” or to sing something that “the young people will like,” it is fair to question whether this is actually being done “for the kids” or rather for the ones promoting X, Y, or Z. It is time for the world of youth & young adult ministry to stop infantilizing young people. “Young” is not a synonym for shallow, frivolous, or stupid.

Instead of preparing liturgies for young people based on what we think (often erroneously) will be familiar or make them comfortable, we should be looking at our young people and asking ourselves what great things they are capable of learning, achieving, and contributing.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Youth Choirs Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on what each translator wants to emphasize and which source text is chosen. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF example) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“In chronological order, [Dom Pierre Combe] traces the Gregorian reform from its beginnings under Dom Guéranger in 1833, to the problems of the Vatican Commission on Sacred Music in the first decade of the 20th century. As one reads the topic headings and development of their content, one wonders how such an innocent and un-warlike subject such as Gregorian chant could have been the focal point of such an intense and continuing battle among scholars and churchmen for so many decades.”

— Dr. Theodore Marier (1968)

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