Music Ministry
The Music Ministry of St. Cletus Parish is so blessed to offer so many opportunities to those who enjoy using their God-given musical talents! We strive for excellence and to be instruments of God in order to encourage the congregation to fully and actively participate in the Mass. We are also looking for volunteer instrumentalists, high school age and older, who read music and are willing to minister, as needed, at weekend masses.
The St. Cletus Music Ministry is filled with wonderful people who desire to share their love for singing and music by putting it to use in service to their church. We welcome singers – from the professionally trained to those who simply enjoy singing along – to join us this year! The opportunities to join are detailed below; all choirs begin their seasons in September.
Chancel Choir
Contempo Choir
Young Adult Choir
Youth Choir
Junior Choir
Children’s Choir
Good Shepherd Choir
Our Chancel Choir is our “traditional” adult choir which leads the congregation in song each week at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday liturgy. This group of nearly 33 men and women work together to foster musical relationships as well as friendships. Rehearsals are weekly on Thursday evenings, 7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Our Contempo Choir leads song, approximately twice per month, at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday mass. This ensemble, open to singers and instrumentalists, typically rehearses at 4:00 p.m. prior to the 5:00 p.m. mass with occasional additional rehearsals as needed. While there is no prerequisite to join, some experience reading music or participating in a choir/band is helpful. We are looking for singers as well as instrumentalists.
NEW THIS YEAR…Young Adult Occasional Choir: Open to 7th and 8th graders, high school and college age students. This group sang in mid-August, right before school started, and was very well received by our parishioners! So, upon occasion, they will sing at a 5:00 p.m. mass that is mutually agreeable to all. Rehearsals will be as needed.
Please contact Karen Ziemba to get your email on the notification list.
Our Youth Choirs….are open to all boys and girls, grades 3rd through 8th, attending either a public school or St. Cletus School. These choirs generally sing at the Sunday, 11:00 a.m. mass approximately one-two times per month and also participate with the other adult choirs in several special masses throughout the year. Parents are requested to schedule other activities around choir rehearsals times/masses however if your student is in sports this Fall perhaps they’d like to start mid-year.
Junior Choir is open to students in grades 5 through 8. Rehearsals are held on Monday, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Children’s Choir is open to students in grades 3 and 4. Rehearsals are held on Thursday, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Our Good Shepherd Choir is part of the St. Cletus Compassionate Care Ministry. This choir provides music for funerals, memorial services and the annual evening mass in November for those families, who have within the past year, experienced the loss of a loved one. This choir sings on an “as needed” basis, frequently on fairly short notice. Participants are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the mass; additional rehearsals (2-3 per year) are on an as needed basis. Funerals are typically scheduled for either 10:00 a.m. or 11:15 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Volunteers do NOT have to be available every day of the week. All that is required is a servant’s heart and the willingness to attend whenever your schedule permits.
If you are interested in attending a rehearsal, joining a particular choir or just want to know more about our music ministry, please contact: Ryan Rump, Director of Music Ministries: rrump@stcletusparish.com or call 708-215-5423.