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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Richard J. Clark • Article Archive

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He is also Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College. His compositions have been performed worldwide.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Richard J. Clark · November 18, 2016

A Dad’s Dilemma • I pray and God determines.

Working for the Church is wholly at odds with having a family and being present for them.

Richard J. Clark · November 4, 2016

Seraphim Singers Premiere “I Am the Land: A Poem in Memory of Óscar Romero”

Assassinated on March 24, 1980 while saying Mass, Romero was beatified by Pope Francis on May 23, 2015.

Richard J. Clark · October 26, 2016

I Say: “Good for Marty Haugen”

He has been on top of the Roman Catholic world of liturgical music for decades.

Richard J. Clark · October 21, 2016

Memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II

Two FREE resources honoring Pope Saint John Paul II

Richard J. Clark · October 14, 2016

The Unhealthy Liturgical Obsession with Self

It is not found in the Roman Rite. It is not there in the scriptures. We are in fact inserting such self-obsession.

Richard J. Clark · October 7, 2016

Vocation Directors Immersed in Chant—Immersed in Prayer

This isn’t about chant. This isn’t about a style of music. It is about the urgency we face with vocations.

Richard J. Clark · September 23, 2016

The Choir Isn’t Everything

The priest’s musical role is enormously influential. This can not be emphasized enough.

Richard J. Clark · September 9, 2016

Three Things that Inform the Work of Every Parish: Hospitality, Catechesis, Evangelization

These three elements inform most every aspect of our service to God and the faithful.

Richard J. Clark · September 2, 2016

The Power of Wordless Presence

Many of us are gearing up our choir programs. Yet if we do not invest of ourselves time to “know” the Lord, our work may be for our own glorification rather than for God’s.

Richard J. Clark · August 26, 2016

Communion Antiphons for Advent & Christmas • NEW • World Library Publications

World Library Publications has published settings of Communion propers for Advent and Christmas. Listen here to beautiful recordings directed by Paul French.

Richard J. Clark · August 19, 2016

Saint Cecilia and an Angel Orazio Gentileschi and Giovanni Lanfranco

New Resource from the Archdiocese of Boston for First Communion and Confirmation

The most important element of this document is not the list of hymns and chants, but the vital coupling of faith formation and sacred music.

Richard J. Clark · August 12, 2016

The Difficulty of Cultivating a Prayerful Focus for Musicians

Quiet prayer for church musicians is very difficult to come by. Here are nine things one may find helpful.

Richard J. Clark · August 5, 2016

“Ad Orientem” and Granovetter’s Threshold Models of Collective Behavior

The people deserve to know the truth. It is time for ignorance to end so that the faithful may develop informed opinions.

Richard J. Clark · July 15, 2016

Letter from USCCB Committee on Divine Worship on “Ad Orientem”

Most Rev’d Serratelli says the current rubrics “reflect the real possibility that the celebrant might be facing away from the assembly.”

Richard J. Clark · July 15, 2016

The Illusion of Privacy • Social Media Etiquette for Liturgical Musicians

A very wise and compassionate Jesuit priest kindly exhorted me to avoid writing such missives. I quickly heeded his advice. So should you. Here’s why:

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Job Opening • $65,000 per year +
    A parish 15 minutes away from me is looking for a choir director and organist. The parish is filled with young families. When I began my career, I would have jumped at such an opportunity! Saint Patrick’s in Grand Haven has a job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year including 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.” I lived in Kansas for 15 years, Texas for 10 years, and Los Angeles for 10 years. Michigan is the closest place I know to heaven!
    —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
    “Offertory” at Catholic Funerals
    I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    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

Random Quote

“Who dreamed on that day that within a few years, far less than a decade, the Latin past of the Church would be all but expunged, that it would be reduced to a memory fading into the middle distance? The thought of it would have horrified us, but it seemed so far beyond the realm of the possible as to be ridiculous. So we laughed it off.”

— Archbishop Dwyer of Portland (26-Oct-1973)

Recent Posts

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  • Job Opening • $65,000 per year +
  • “Reminder” — Month of November (2025)
  • “Reader Feedback” • 5 November 2025
  • Never Work For A Priest Or Bishop Who Believes Sacred Music Should Be “Entertainment”

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