Support the Beauty of Sacred Music for the Mass
The Rosary Shrine is proud to host the only Sung Mass in the traditional Latin form of Mass in the Archdiocese of Westminster (London).
Every Sunday at 5pm, Mass is sung in the Dominican rite at our splendidly-restored High Altar, with ancient Dominican chant sung by our Director of Music and other Cantors.
Conscious of the need to support and encourage young Catholic musicians, and also conscious of the need for the “sacred treasury” of sacred music to be heard in the sacred Liturgy, we also have a Dominican Rite Mass with polyphony once a month.
Volunteers
So far we have only been able to have volunteer musicians sing at this Mass, and we are very grateful for their time and talents.
One of the singers said:
“It was a real privilege to be able to sing at Mass at the Rosary Shrine as part of the unique Dominican rite liturgy…
There is silence, prayer, flowing chant and then the rich interwoven lines of sacred polyphony, the result of individual offerings of talent gathered together through grace!”
Supporting our Musicians
The musicians come together under the baton of the professional musician, Rachael Shipard (pictured above with the renowned Catholic composer Sir James MacMillan CBE, a patron of the Rosary Shrine Schola, and with Martin Stacey our Director of Music).
Simeon, who sings in the choir has said:
“The Rosary Shrine has, for a long time, been a place where the highest worship has been offered to God, which is kindly supported by volunteers who give of their time and voice to enhance that.
This opportunity gives those volunteers, in particular Rachael Shipard, who has led the efforts for a long time, both recognition and support to take that service to a greater level.”
We believe it is right and just that Rachael be given a stipend for her services, and the Rosary Shrine needs your help to sustain the quality of sacred music offered to God in the context of the Sunday Dominican Rite Mass.
Our Funding Need
Currently, we need £ 15,000 GBP per year – around US $ 19,000 – to pay for professional singers in addition to our volunteers, to ensure that the Rosary Shrine will resound with glorious polyphony for years to come.
As another musician said:
“Singing polyphony during Mass is a wonderful way to experience the Dominican liturgy. The abundance of singing can be a beautiful reminder of the presence of all the angels and saints during the Mass.”
Thank you for your help.
US Donors: click to make a tax-deductible donation via ‘US Friends of the Rosary Shrine’
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