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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

($54,000 per year) • FSSP San Diego Seeks Choirmaster

Jeff Ostrowski · September 13, 2019

81657-st-anne-fssp E DO NOT USUALLY advertise jobs, but today I make an exception. That’s because a dear friend of mine asked me to help FSSP San Diego locate a choirmaster—I replied, “Father, I’ll do what I can to help spread the word.”

Before I continue, the worst thing you can do would be to contact me about this position. Potential candidates must send an email to Fr. John Lyons, FSSP. 1 Don’t email me.

I recommend going to the parish website and exploring the photo galleries:

    * *  St. Anne Parish Website (San Diego)

JOB DESCRIPTION :

• The position is salaried. It would begin at the present minimum level for an exempt worker in California—about $50,000. By next year that goes up another $4,000.

• The position qualifies for diocesan benefits.

• There’s one sung Mass on Sunday.

• There would be several other days throughout the year when the choir would be expected to sing: holy days, First Communion, Holy Week, and so forth. There are also weddings and funerals (for which the director would be paid extra).

• There would be one rehearsal during the week for the adult choir (and again just before Mass).

• There would be training of the choristers once a week, and an introductory music class for younger children.

• Since the last message was sent we have lost our organist. If one can both direct and play the organ that would be a plus, but not absolutely necessary to fill the position.

• There are maybe 12 members in the choir at present. There is presently no chorister program. We lost several of the younger voices when they went away to college. The rest of the members are more middle aged. The program needs rebuilding.

Fr. Lyons made this position available a few weeks ago. I was curious whether the position had been filled, since I direct at the FSSP parish in Los Angeles. It seems Father Lyons offered the position to one of the candidates, but that person later decided not to accept. So they are still looking…although people who applied a few weeks ago are still being considered. (At least that’s my understanding.)

81659-Saint-Anne-San-Diego




NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Full disclosure: I have never met the Pastor (Fr. Lyons, FSSP), but he’s a highly respected member of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. Indeed, his reputation is stellar.

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

Filed Under: Articles 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

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    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

Random Quote

What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.

— Pope Benedict XVI, Letter accompanying “Summorum Pontificum” (7/7/07)

Recent Posts

  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
  • Little Encouragement?
  • Children’s Repertoire • Mueller’s Recommendations

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