Sacred Music and Music Ministries in the Diocese of Phoenix
Welcome music directors, ministers, and musicians of the Diocese of Phoenix! On this page you will find a variety of resources to support you in your parish and school ministry, and information about new programs and initiatives from the Office of Worship and SS Simon and Jude Cathedral.
All music ministers should be receiving the monthly Office of Worship newsletter Praenotanda.
If you are new to the Diocese of Phoenix, embarking on a new ministry in one of our parishes, or are not currently receiving Praenotanda, please contact Alyssa at ayingling@dphx.org to get on our distribution list and to learn more about what is happening in the Diocese of Phoenix.
The Diocese of Phoenix currently has no promulgated norms or guidelines for music ministers and directors or music ministries. If you or your pastor, have any questions regarding best practices for liturgical ministries, please contact the Office of Worship directly.
All ministers must complete Safe-Environment Training (SET) and the parish/school music program must be conducted according to the Safe Environment policy.
SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral has had an extended period without a permanent music director. Throughout this interim Sr. Holy Hope, SOLT, and the Cathedral cantors have organized the weekly music you hear at the TV Mass. The Cathedral will be announcing a new music director in the coming weeks a new volunteer choir will be forming on September 18th. If you are interested in singing or joining the orchestra for the weekly liturgies at SS Simon and Jude Cathedral, please contact the Cathedral directly.
Documents on Art and Music
Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)
Musicam Sacram (Vatican II, Instruction on Music in the Liturgy, 1967)
Musicae Sacrae (Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Music, 1955)
Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (USCCB 2007)
Tra Le Sollecitduini (JPII Chirograph on Sacred Music, 2003)
Letter of JP II to Artists (1999)
Divini Cultus (1928, Pope Pius XI)
The Church Music Association of America has a variety of books and resources available for all aspects of chant, propers, and Latin hymnody available on their website.
MorningStar Music Publishers was founded in 1986 in St. Louis by Rodney Schrank and Ruth Lewis, both experienced in sacred music publishing from their time at Concordia Publishing House. From the beginning, MorningStar has functioned as a non-denominational publishing house offering music for churches whose worship focuses mainly within the liturgical tradition. The composer list has grown significantly, and new composers are added each year.
CanticaNOVA Publications (CNP)
Publishers of traditional liturgical music (choral, cantor, organ, instrumental), providing free liturgy planning assistance and articles online.
Publishers of the Saint Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal and numerous other resources for sacred music.
Digital platform for liturgy and music preparation, and publisher of a pew missalette.
American Catholic Press
American Catholic Press (ACP) is a publisher of hymnals, missals, books, and other materials for the liturgy, both in celebration and education.
GIA
GIA Publications is a major publisher of sacred choral music, hymnals, sacred music recordings, music education materials, and other related products.
Ignatius Press
Ignatius Press publishers and distributors of Catholic books, magazines, videos and music; primary publisher in U.S. of Pope Benedict XVI’s books.
Liturgical Press
“Resources for a Worshiping World.” Liturgical Press was founded by Saint John’s Abbey (Collegeville, MN) in 1926.
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
OCP offers a range of products and services — more than 650 — from music for worship to CDs for listening, from inspirational books to online tools, from hymnals to magazines.
WLP – World Library Publications
World Library Publications is a division of J.S. Paluch Company, Inc., providing Catholic music, liturgy and worship resources, Mass Settings, Mass Music and more.
St. James Music Press – Since 1992 St. James Music Press publishes new traditional anthems, beautiful classics, and fresh arrangements of varying difficulty.
More events for the 2022-2023 year will be posted soon!
The 2022 Convocation of Diocesan Music Directors has passed. Thank you to all who joined us for this inaugural event. Over 50 individuals from 34 parishes showed up for this day of exploration and fellowship. Please plan to join us next year!
The Office of Worship joyfully announces the formation of a Diocesan Choir and Orchestra. The Diocesan Choir will be invited to sing at major Diocesan liturgies and events throughout the Diocese.
Diocesan Choir
Who: All those with recent choral experience in a parish or community choir are invited to join. The general expectation is that the members of the Diocesan choir will be ministering in their local parishes as well. There will be no formal audition process this year. Singing and sight reading abilities will be assessed as we go along and move into more complex music.
When: Rehearsals will be on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 7-9 pm. A rehearsal and liturgy schedule is available here. The first rehearsal will be on Monday, October 24th at 7pm.
Where: To start, the choir will be rehearsing at the Diocese of Phoenix Pastoral Center (400 E Monroe, Phoenix). This will likely change though the rehearsal location will remain in the central valley/central Phoenix area.
Register: If you intend to join us, please contact Alyssa Yingling in the Office of Worship at ayingling@dphx.org . Please include your name, parish, a brief overview of any recent choir involvement, and the part you are most comfortable singing.
Diocesan Orchestra
Who: The Diocesan / Cathedral Orchestra is composed of two parts: (1) a group of university students exploring the heritage music of the Sonoran missions and who are also committed to playing at the Cathedral once a month as well as Diocesan liturgies and (2) community instrumentalists who are available to assist at major Diocesan liturgies.
When: Community instrumentalists will be invited to join for a rehearsal immediately prior to major liturgies as well as the liturgy itself. A formal rehearsal schedule has not yet been outlined.
Where: TBD
Register: If you intend to join us, please contact Alyssa Yingling in the Office of Worship at ayingling@dphx.org . Please include your name, parish, instrument, and a brief overview of any recent orchestral/musical experience. Either Alyssa or Steven will get back to you regarding your participation in the orchestra.