Views from the Choir Loft

“Sacred Music Pilgrimage to Italy” with Grace Feltoe

Guest Author · November 27, 2025

O YOU FEEL a desire to immerse yourself in the rich tradition and history of the Church through sacred song … in Italy? Father Lukasz Misko, OP, president of the Dominican Liturgical Centre in Krakow, Poland, and Grace Feltoe, founder of The Musica Sacra Project, would like to invite you to a sacred music pilgrimage to Italy this spring, experiencing the Eternal City, Orvieto and Assisi through sacred song. Enjoy and be a part of:

* Daily sung Mass and Liturgy of the Hours
* Visit the great pilgrimage sights of Italy
* Participate in introductory workshops learning the basics of chant and singing
* Enjoy sacred music concerts, including a concert by organist Davide Bucci and soprano Grace Feltoe, at Basilica de Santi XII Apostoli
* Have a tour of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music with Father Robert Mehlhart, OP
* Delve into the beauty of Gregorian chant, hymns and sacred music to enrich your faith through music and prayer at historic and spiritual epicenters of our Faith.

How to book and all other information can be found via the link below:

* https://www.206tours.com/cms/sacredmusic/

And did we forget they’ll be great Italian food!

We hope you enjoyed this guest article by Grace Feltoe.

Grace Feltoe is an Australian/Maltese soprano and sacred music specialist, from Perth, Western Australia. She studied at the University of Western Australia majoring in Music Studies and Specialist Music Studies (Piano Performance), which included strong choral and vocal training in the English tradition, leading to professional ensembles. From 2015, Grace assumed the role of cantor for various parishes in Perth, including St Mary’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s Basilica, St Paul’s Church, Divine Mercy Church, and New Norcia Benedictine Monastery, with whom she released a sacred music CD ‘Adoro Te’, with Father Robert Nixon, OSB.

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

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” 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

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). 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 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed