It is said that singing hymns is like praying twice. St. Agnes Cathedral Parish is blessed with many talented members who share their gift of song in praise of the Lord. Their voices raised at Mass and other liturgies enrich our spiritual life and encourage us all to participate more fully. The many singing choirs and other ensembles take part in concerts, seasonal music services and performances outside the Parish. Our choirs have performed at Shea Stadium, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. and in concert with the South Shore Symphony.
The choirs and ensembles are: Children’s Choir, Junior Girls, Senior Girls, Choir of Men and Boys, Cathedral Chorale, Schola Cantorum, Cathedral Singers, Spanish, Contemporary Music Ensembles, and Resurrection. In addition to these groups selected choristers attend additional rehearsals and sing at some 11:00 a.m. Masses and special liturgies.
The Music Ministry of the Parish of St. Agnes Cathedral
is under the direction of Michael Bower.
Please contact the Music Office at (516) 764-9578 for more information.
Children’s Choir – members are 1st and 2nd graders who rehearse once a week and sing every third Sunday at the 9:30 a.m. Family Mass.
Junior Girls’ Choir – is made up of girls in grades 3 through 5. It rehearses once a week and sings twice each month at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday or 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Audition required.
Senior Girls’ Choir – consists of girls in grades 6 through 8. It rehearses twice a week and sings twice each month at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday or 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass and for special liturgies. Audition required.
Choir of Men and Boys – An adult and youth (grades 3-12) choir. The boys in grades 3-8 rehearse two times a week, and the full ensemble once a week. The choir sings every other Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Mass and for special liturgies. Audition required.
Cathedral Chorale and Cathedral Schola Ensemble – is an adult and teenage ensemble that rehearses weekly and sings every 3rd Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Mass and for special liturgies at Christmas and Easter. Audition required.
Spanish Choir – A youth and adult choir which sings every Saturday evening at the 7:30 p.m. Spanish liturgy and rehearses on Saturdays p.m.
Contemporary Music Ensembles – There are two ensembles: one ensemble, composed of adults and teens, sings every Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Family Mass in the Lower Hall; the other ensemble, composed of teenagers, sings every Sunday at the 5:00 p.m. Mass and rehearses at 4:00 p.m. on the same day.
Resurrection Choir – Attends funeral Masses to assist the congregation in singing the hymns and responding to the spoken prayers. Funerals are usually scheduled at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. on weekday mornings.
A Chorister’s Prayer
Bless, O Lord, us your servants who minister in your temple;
Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts,
and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.