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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Jeff Ostrowski • Article Archive

A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · June 16, 2013

1965 English Mass Demonstration “Sign Of Peace”

“During the boy-scout hand-shake (Sign of Peace), the lady with whom I shook hands accused me of trying to steal her bracelet.” — Msgr. Francis P. Schmitt, writing in 1965

Jeff Ostrowski · June 16, 2013

Nobody Can Answer My Question?

I have an important question, but nobody seems to care. It has to do with the famous: “When it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated.”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 13, 2013

Does Your Missal Obey Pope Paul VI?

“Gregorian Chant is apt to remain the singing voice of the Church for a good many years to come.” — Fr. Malone, writing in 1962.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2013

Choir Members’ Behavior In The Year 1596

On 24 December 1596, Nanino records that the singers missed a response of “Amen,” which they were supposed to make after the pope said the Gospel at Matins. But the books were marked so that the same thing would not happen the following year, as it might if they depended only on memory.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2013

Proud Father With Son & Daughter

Normally, I hate it when blogs become too personal, but I hope our readers will tolerate me sharing two (2) pictures of our children.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2013

Entering The Danger Zone: Congregational Singing

Are we being honest when we claim that the “entire congregation” can sing a hymn at Mass? I had to search pretty hard, but finally found someone willing to admit the truth.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2013

Watershed Customer Service

These days, companies treat their customers like animals. I find it disgusting.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 8, 2013

“How Do I Use Gregorio? How Do I Use GABC?”

To prove that anybody can learn to use GABC (Gregorio) in five seconds to create Gregorian chant scores, I created this training video while holding a 6-month-old baby.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 7, 2013

Concerning “Finger Flapping”

Sigh . . What to do when you’re the greatest of the great?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 6, 2013

Splendid! A 2013 Recording By Cistercian Nuns

“I have listened to the CD with great enjoyment. When listening to the Cistercian Nuns of Saint Mary’s Abbey, one realizes that they do not just sing at prayer or sing their prayers: their very singing is prayer, according to the axiom, Those who sing well, pray twice.” — Quote from a listener.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 5, 2013

Fantastic News For The New Translation!

The crucial question was not asked: “Is the New Translation more accurate than the previous one?”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 4, 2013

What Is Currently Happening? Let’s Be Honest.

Why do 99% of Catholic Churches replace 100% of the Mass Propers 99% of the time?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 3, 2013

Free Musical Scores For Catholic Weddings

Nuptial Mass Responsorial Psalms, Gospel Acclamations, Introits, Offertories, simple organ interludes, training videos, PDF scores, and more . . . all for free!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 1, 2013

A Most Magnificent Monogram

Can you find all the letters in this ancient symbol? Every Catholic knows how the Preface begins: “It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks . . .”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 30, 2013

History, Padre Pio, Pius X, And More

Did you know Padre Pio was drafted into the army? Did you know his father had to come to America to earn money so Padre Pio could be tutored before being accepted to monastic life?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Some of our younger parish clergy read their sermons. This should not be done except for some very special reason. The priest who is not capable of preparing and delivering a brief, clear instruction on Catholic teaching to his people is not fit to be in parish work. The people as a rule do not want to listen to a sermon reader.”

— Archbishop of Baltimore (9 July 1929)

Recent Posts

  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire
  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars

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