Solemn Mass for Advent II

The Schola Cantorum of the Palm Beaches will assist Fr Kevin Nelson and two other priests in a solemn Mass in the Extraordinary form for the Second Sunday of Advent. The Mass will be celebrated at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1000 W Lantana Rd., in Lantana, FL at 2:00pm. The Schola will sing the Gregorian propers along with Mass XVII and Credo III. We hope to see everyone there!

All Saints Vespers

The SCPB will offer a solemn 1st Vespers service along with Frs. Kevin Nelson, Brian King, and Brian Campbell at St Patrick Catholic Church in - 13591 Prosperity Farms Rd in Palm Beach Gardens - at 7:00pm on October 31. The schola will include a setting of the Magnificat on the 8th tone by Palestrina. The organist for the event will be Alan Bowman.

Season 3

The Schola cantorum of the Palm Beaches begins its 3rd season with an open rehearsal on August 30, 2009 at 7:00 pm. All experienced male singers from the Palm Beach Diocese are invited to come out and experience the Church's chant. The schola will introduce polyphony for the first time into a Solemn Vespers service on October 31, 7:00pm at St Patrick Catholic Church in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Chanted Vespers - June 29

This Monday, June 29, Michael O'Connor and David Taylor of the SCPB will join with 2 members of the Cathedral Parish of St Ignatius and director Adam Brakel in West Palm Beach for a chanted Evening Prayer in the novus ordo. The liturgy begins at 7:0opm at the Cathedral on Military Trail just south of PGA Blvd.

Schola appearance this weekend

The Schola Cantorum of the Palm Beaches will assist the first Mass offered by Brian Campell after his ordination on May 2, 2009 at 4:30pm at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Chant Workshop Wrap-up

Dr. Jennifer Donelson has posted a post-workshop summary at the Musica Sacra Florida site. Stop by and drop her a comment or two on this very nice summary with photos. From my perspective, I thought the workshop went very well, especially for the first one. There was a good number of folks there (manageable for us) and everyone seemed to have an appropriate instructional-level class to attend. I hope everyone had a splendid time as was able to learn something. I thought all the groups did a splendid job at the Saturday Mass. Thanks to all the Palm Beach Schola members who attended. I think we were represented well. I'm sure it was nice to chat and sing with other Floridians who share your passion for chant. You really are not alone!

Just a reminder too that the men will be singing for Mass at St Christopher's in Hobe Sound this Sunday at 2:00. All a acapella!

Lent I Mass

Congratulations to everyone in the schola for doing a wonderful job on one of the most difficult set of Mass chants in the Church calendar. The group has come a long way, indeed! Here are some pictures I managed to snap to commemorate the event.

Masses in the Extraordinary Form in the Palm Beach Diocese

The Schola cantorum will be serving two Masses in the extraordinary form in March. The first will be for the 1st Sunday in Lent (March 1) at St Patrick Catholic Church in Palm Beach Gardens. The second will be for the Third Sunday in Lent (March 15) at St Christopher Catholic Church in Hobe Sound. Both Masses will be celebrated at 2:00 pm and will be in the form of the Missa cantata, which means there will be a single priest, Father Kevin Nelson, with schola to sing the Ordinary and Proper chants. We invite everyone to attend these historic events.

Happy New Year!

I'd like to wish everyone a blessed feast of Mary the Mother of God and the commencement of the 2009th Year of Our Lord. The schola is going to be pretty busy this winter and spring, bringing the music of the Church to its people. I'm looking forward to it! I'm including a picture of our crew and clergy from Vespers for the Immaculate Conception in December here. The cope worn by Father Andrew is a beautifully designed Portuguese vestment with Marian embroidery, originally given to Father Brian (right) by Cardinal O'Malley before leaving for Boston. The beautiful candlesticks and crucifix in the background were inherited by Father Kevin (left). We are so fortunate to have priests in this diocese who also seek to promote the beautiful and the sacred.