Music Ministry

Giving Glory and Praise to God


Mass Times and Groups

Our Music Ministry seeks to glorify God and aid in the sanctification of the lay faithful through the enrichment of the Liturgy with Sacred Music.  We are always looking for volunteer cantors, singers, and choir members for the following Masses:


  • 5:00PM Saturday Vigil: Cantor and Singers
  • 9:00AM Sunday Mass: Cantor
  • 11:00AM Sunday Mass: Sacred Heart Choir
  • 5:00PM Sunday Mass: Cantors and Teen/ Young Adult Choir


 If you are interested in volunteering, please see below for the different ways you can participate:


  • Sacred Heart Choir: The Sacred Heart Choir is a mixed choir that sings at the Sunday 11:00AM Mass. The choir leads the congregation in the singing of hymns and Mass parts, performs meditative choral anthems and chants, and sings the Introit and Communion antiphons. Repertoire includes Hymnody, Chant and choral pieces from antiquity and modernity. The choral season runs year round. Rehearsals are held every other Thursday from 6:30 to 8pm, and some Tuesdays as needed, in the Music Room. No audition is required, and training can be provided upon request.
  • Cantor: The cantor sings at Masses without a choir, and is responsible for leading the congregation in the singing of hymns and Mass parts. Additionally, the cantor sings the Kyrie, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Introit antiphon, and Communion antiphon. Cantors are encouraged to attend choir rehearsals. Training can be provided upon request.
  • Singer: For anyone who does not want to be in the choir or cantor, we are still happy to have you sing with us! You can join us in rehearsing before Mass, and sit in the music section and sing the hymns and Mass parts.
  • Youth Choir: Open to all youth ages 7-17, the Youth Choirs sings for the Christmas Vigil Mass. This is an excellent opportunity for youth to receive musical and liturgical formation, and to participate in a parish ministry. Information session is the second Sunday in November following the 11am mass. Rehearsals begin the following Tuesday from 6-7pm and continue through Christmas. There is a minimum amount of rehearsals required to attend to be able to sing with this choir.
  • Teen/Young Adult Choir: This choir meets every other Sunday from 4-4:45pm to sing for the Sunday 5pm mass. This choir is open to those that have made their confirmation through college.

 

If you are interested in joining any of these groups, or would like more information, please contact Marcie Dixon, Director of Music & Liturgy, email: music@shcva.org or call the Parish Office at 703-590-0030.


Sacred Music

Through its union with the very texts of the Mass, Sacred Music forms an "integral part of the solemn liturgy" and serves to glorify God and aid in the sanctification of the faithful. The Church affirms that her musical tradition is a "treasure of inestimable value" that must be "preserved and fostered with great care"  (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy). Pope Saint Pius X, in his 1903 document on Sacred Music, Tra Le Sollecitudini, states that two qualities characterize Sacred Music: it must be holy and have goodness of form.  At Sacred Heart, we take to heart the teachings of Mother Church on Sacred Music, and work to have a program that fosters the "full, conscious, and active" participation called for by Vatican II.


Chant:  Chant is the music of the Roman Catholic Church that has developed with the liturgy and has been consecrated and set aside specifically for Liturgical use. In order to preserve this form of music in the Mass, as called for by Vatican II, we chant the Ordinary parts of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) in both Latin and English.


Hymnody: At Sacred Heart we believe that hymnody should be singable by all. Therefore we carefully select appropriate hymns that can be sung easily by all members of our congregation. Additionally, we carefully select only those hymns that have solid Catholic theology, are well composed, and are unassociated in style with the pop music of our day.


Pipe Organ: Vatican II affirms that the organ is "to be held in high esteem" as the "traditional instrument" of the Latin rite. We therefore use the pipe organ at Mass, as it adds a "wonderful splendor" to the Liturgy and is specially suited to it, being especially associated with what is sacred.


Proper Prayers: According to Vatican, national and diocesan guidelines, it is both permissible and laudible to use these antiphons. We are slowly working to re-introduce these Proper antiphons to the Liturgy by singing the Introit antiphon and Communion antiphon found in the Roman Missal.


Documents and Guidelines for the Liturgy