I have loaded the first five Sundays of Lent plus the St. Patrick's Day music onto the Resources Page, just so we would be up to date, before getting into Holy Week. As you go through this music, I am sure that you will find some excellent music presented here. I hope that you will enjoy this presentation.

Peter

The organ failed during the Processional ... as noticed when one of the tall flutes wouldn't close and continued to sound. We limped through the Kyrie but after that it was all a'capella. To the Choir's credit, we got through it with pitch pipes and nerve. I can only recall one or two other times when this happened to this Choir. Check out our effort on the Resources Page.

Peter

Whoa, folks; Sorry about this but I've been away from the "Ol' Star-Gate" for a few weeks. On the Resources Page, I've now added the last four Sundays. There's some great music in here, I hope you will enjoy it.

Peter

The first 'Ordinary Time' Program for the current year has been loaded up to the Resources Page. Please take the time to review the music from this Program.

Peter

The Program for the Epiphany Sunday has been loaded onto the Resources Page. Please visit the Resources Page and listen to the Program.

Peter

The Program for the Feast of Mary, Mother of God has been loaded onto the Resources Page. I have not loaded the Anticipated Mass from Sunday at 4:30pm, just to save space on the server and my hard drive ... Please visit the Resources Page and listen to the Program from the 12:15 pm Mass on New Year's Day.

Peter

The Program for the Feast of the Holy Family has been loaded onto the Resources Page. Please visit the Page and listen to the music.

Peter

There is definitely something very moving about the warmth of the Christmas Celebrations, and the traditions of Saint Patrick's Basilica with the beautiful decorations, the manger scene at the front of the Basilica and the the smiling faces, everywhere. To recapture some of the Christmas Celebrations, please go to the Resources Page and listen again to the Festival of Carols and the Midnight Mass.

Peter

The last Sunday in Advent is on the Resources Page. Take some time to listen and enjoy the music. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Peter

The Third Sunday of Advent is posted to the Resources Page. Take some time to listen and know that next Sunday will be Christmas Eve. Rehearsals will continue, this week as normal with an additional Christmas Rehearsal on Saturday. Choir members should make known to the Director, if they have not already done so, their availability for both the Christmas weekend and New Years weekend Masses.

Peter

It's going to be a shorter Advent this year, as the 4th Sunday of Advent is actually Christmas Eve. We're sort of cheated out of a week of preparation. For the Second Sunday in Advent I have posted the Program to the Resources Page. Take some time to listen and reflect on this beautiful time of the year.

Peter

Happy New Year, everyone! It's Advent and the music from our celebration for the First Sunday in Advent is posted to the Resources Page; it is another good job by all - well done!

Peter

The end of another year has arrived. The music from our celebration of Christ The King is posted to the Resources Page; it is a particularly good effort by all - very well done!

Peter

Today's Mass has been posted to the Resources Page; please go there and listen to the Program.

Peter

Today's Mass has been posted to the Resources Page; please go there and listen to the Program.

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. There is a special rendition of Schubert's Ave Maria at the end of this Sunday's Program; it's worth your time to hear it. The soloist who was also the organist, went through the hymn three times. It is very beautifully done!

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. There are only a few Sundays left in the current Liturgical Year - and then it will be Advent!

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. Welcome back to our Director/Organist, Francesca Bailey.

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. This is the last Sunday for Gilles to be on the Director's Bench - both the 11:00 Choir and the 12:15 Choir wish to express our sincere appreciation for his musical direction, humour and patience for these last three weeks. We will look forward to working with Gilles again in the near future! As well, on behalf of the Youth Choir, we wish to acknowledge with sincere appreciation the generous contributions of Michael Hartney and Sue McGahey for these last three weeks. The contribution of these talented musicians have been critical in the continued development of these Choirs.

Peter

Tonight was a very historical evening, commemorating the ancient traditions of the Order of St. John, sometimes referred to as the Knights of Malta. This Order was established in the middle of the 11th Century to administer to health care needs of Christian pilgrims travelling to visit Holy sites in and around Jerusalem. It has always been traditional that on the evening before the Knights' investiture, that they would spend the time in a chapel, praying before the Blessed Sacrament. To fulfill tradition, tonight, the mixed Choirs, 11:00 and 12:15, sang the Benediction and were accompanied by Michael Hartney on Organ. The Program comprised the Choir singing "O Salutaris"; "Tantum Ergo" and "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" and Michael played an entrance,"Suite Gothique" by L. Boëllmann and a final piece after the Ceremony, called "Fugue in 'F'" from Victor Lübeck's "Prelude". This Program may be heard on the Resources Page.

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. I hope that you will enjoy listening to these files and I hope you will all have a very happy Thanksgiving Day!

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. Sorry about the loss of the music files last week. When I was doing some maintenance on the site, I mistakenly blew away several months worth of files. Fortunately, I had a copy of everything on my own PC. The re-uploading of the data was the only delay. You will notice that both last Sunday's as well as this Sunday's Programs are on the Resources Page. I hope that you will enjoy listening to these files.

Peter

Today's Mass is on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. Last week, 31 Parishioners signed on to one the the Choirs at our Basilica. Thank you to the volunteers who signed these people onto the register and a special "Welcome!" to the new members of our Choirs. An additional 7 people signed onto the Choirs this weekend. We welcome them to the Choirs as well! This will conclude the formal Membership Drive for this year, however, if any other Parioners would like to join one the the Choirs, please contact Francesca Bailey at the email address or phone number given on the Contact Page.

Peter

I've put today's Mass on the Resources Page; please go have a listen to the Program. This marks our return for another season. There will much more to be said, concerning our plans for this year, however, some of the Programs that will be returning will include the "Music & Lessons for Advent"; the Christmas Eve Program with Carols before Mid-night Mass and our annual Saint Patrick's Day Celebration. Welcome back, to all of the Choirs; and a special welcome to all new members to these Choirs!

Peter

I've put today's Mass on the Resources Page for your listening enjoyment. Everyone did an especially good job this Sunday; I know that you'll enjoy hearing it! Lately, I have used the server to host some resources for which I have provided links in the communication emails. Choir members should check your emails for these links which are typically from our rehearsals.

Peter

Today's Mass is now on the Resources Page for your listening enjoyment. Several of the hymns sounded great as we sang them today and I'm sure that you will agree once you've listened to them. For those who were involved with the National Prayer Breakfast, on Thursday, I've left the demo hymns in the "Media" folder on the server, so the links from the email that I had sent to you on Wednesday, should still work, although the links on the Resources Page are gone.

Peter

I have uploaded the best of our rehearsal on Tuesday night for the National Prayer Breakfast. Please visit the Resources Page to rehearse the three hymns that we will be using.

Peter

I have uploaded two events for your attension. First; I have put the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 14th up on the site. There was a duet with Diana and Andrea performed at the end of Mass that day. Second; I captured some parts from our rehearsal on Saturday for the National Prayer Breakfast. Please visit the Resources Page to rehearse the three hymns that we will be using.

Peter

Today is also "Battle of the Atlantic Sunday" and the 61st Anniversary of VE Day. Following, on the Resources Page, we have a special commemorative hymn sung by François; "Eternal Father, Strong To Save" (aka: The Navy Hymn). We should reflect on the sacrifices that our fathers and grandfathers made in those days and remember them in our prayers. This is also Vocation Sunday, coincident with Good Shepherd Sunday. As Father Ocwood encourraged us today, now is the time to fervently pray for vocations.

Peter

Here is the Easter Sunday Program. Our guest solist was Misty Banyard - fortunately I captured the entire program. It was truly a beautiful Easter Celebration. Our Guest Organist throughout the Triduum was Gilles LeClerc who also wrote the Mass Parts used at both the Vigil and this Mass as well at the Holy Thursday Mass. Please enjoy this music on the Resources Page of this web site.

Peter

In the recording for the Easter Vigil Program, I messed up and for that I am truly sorry. The recorder has four quality settings and I chose the highest setting which allowed 2 1/4 hours of record time - which I thought would be plenty... It wasn't! The recording stopped mid way through the second Communion hymn. That meant that I missed Lara's fabulous Mozart - "Alleluia". Lara Ferreira was our guest soloist. This was an awesome presentation by Lara and losing that is very regrettable - very sorry Lara! To everyone else, this meant that I missed three other hymns; Vivaldi's All Earth Rejoice, Pitoni's Cantate Domino and Vivaldi's Gloria. This was one of the longest Easter Vigils which I've seen at Saint Patrick's. I'll need to keep this in mind for next year's Vigil...

Peter

Here is our Good Friday Program. Everyone should be very pleased with their respective efforts. You all sounded great and the word from the congregation was very positive - good job, everyone!

Peter

Here is our Holy Thursday Program. Most of the music is a'cappella - with luck, I have been successful in editing out all of the pitch-pipe tones, nonetheless, it's worth a listen, especially O Sacred Head Surrounded!

Peter

Welcome back to the SPB Choirs web site. Following, on the Resources Page, is the Palm Sunday Program. Our cantor was Fiona Hall and at the end on the Mass, Diana Perry sang a special contribution, "Jerusalem! Thou That Killest The Prophets". This was a piece that came from "Arias for soprano from St. Paul" by Felix Mendelssohn.

Peter

I have placed the Program from our Saint Patrick's Day celebrations on the Resources Page. I have heard a few comments already and I must say, the critics have been good to us! Everyone seems to have enjoyed the entire Program. Thanks to all who were a part of this beautiful celebration.

Peter

Update: The navigation is fixed! The problem was not that SSI had been disabled, but that it had been reconfigured in a few ways which are, overall, better, but required some page updates. I've also updated the styles slightly. ^.^

The site's mostly back online, with the exception of the navigation bar on the left, which we're currently trying to take care of. (SSI must be re-enabled by our host, which shouldn't take that long.) My apologies for not getting the site back online sooner.

For your convenience, and until we can get the navigation fixed, here are the links to the other pages:

• Main Page / News
• 12:15 Adult Choir
• Youth Choir
• Resources
• Contact Us
• St. Patrick's Basilica

Greg

Here is the Program from the Mass this afternoon at 4:30. It was the anticipated Mass for Sunday, which is the Feast of Mary, Mother of God. While the Choir members were down to only 11, it still sounds very good. Thanks to all those who could make it out to the Mass, today!

Peter

Saint Patrick's Choirs presented a Festival of Carols on Christmas Eve, proceeding the Midnight Mass. It featured not only many of the standard favourites but it also featured many soloists performing some of the more cherished and seldom heard carols. The Festival of Carols ran just over one hour and then the Choir assisted at the Mass at Midnight. The two Programs, Carols and Mass, are presented on the Resources page. The Saint Patrick's Choirs were under the direction of Mrs. Francesca Bailey with guest Organist, M. Gilles Leclerc, who was, also, the composer of the sung Mass parts.

Peter

Saint Patrick's Choirs presented a Prayer Service this past Advent. We called it a "Festival of Lessons & Carols" and we featured a sequence of scripture readings, relevent to the Advent Season, and more formal Seasonal Carols presented by both the Choir and selected soloists. The Presentation was planned as an opportunity to stop our secular rush towards Christmas and take a prayerful break to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas which is the birth of our Saviour, Christ the Lord. For this reason there was no fee charged at the door and the event was held in the Basilica. A free-will offering was accepted later. The event lasted about an hour. The entire Program has been placed on the Resources page, for your listening pleasure.

Peter

At last, I have finally uploaded our Choir Program from the Transitional Diaconate Ordination of Rev.-Dr. Stephen Liang. With the exception of the "Ave Maria", this year's celebration was a carbon copy of last year's, therefore, I thought that I would leave in place last year's Program for Fr. Anthony Hannon, on the Resources page. This will be an opportunity to compare how we have developed over a full year. The Choir extends our heart-felt "Congratulations!" to Rev.-Dr. Liang and our prayerful support for his continued studies towards his Priestly Ordination.

Peter

I have loaded onto our site, on the Resources page, a copy of last year's music from the Deaconate Ordination for Fr. Anthony Hannon. I'm putting it here for your listening and learning (re-learning) pleasure. We will begin rehearsing for Stephen Liang's celebration almost immediately.

Peter

Here is the musical program which was presented at the 150th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving for the founding of Saint Patrick's Parish. The program material is presented in order of its performance on the Resources page. The Mass, "Saint Patrick's Basilica Anniversary Mass" was composed by Gilles Leclerc, and dedicated in Memory of Peter Gravelle the past Musical director at Saint Patrick's. Gilles was pleased to say that the Choir captured his music in a way that reflected his intensions when he wrote it. The trumpet soloist was Michel Rondeau. The final piece, "Trumpet Voluntary" is his own composition and a very fitting conclusion to this very joyous celebration. Our Director and Organist was Francesca Bailey assisted by guest Director and Organist Theresa Cillis-O'Meara and guest Organist Gilles Leclerc. A full list of credits will be posted at another time. The members of the 150th Anniversary Choir hope that you enjoy this presentation and join with us in expressing our prayerful thanksgiving to our Lord for this "Centre of Faith" which we call, Saint Patrick's Basilica!

Peter

From our latest rehearsal of last Saturday, here are the hymns that we covered. I took only the last (and hopefully the best) attempt of the particular hymn. In two cases, we never completed in an end to end fashion, the whole hymn. In those two cases I have used the joiner application (yes, it not only splits, but it splices as well!) to give you a completed version. Again, please check on the Resources page for this material. You are encouraged to download these music files and serenade your PC. I look forward to seeing you all at rehearsal!

Peter

I have split and uploaded those hymns from the 150th Anniversary Mass which were recorded on November 1st.They have been placed on the Resources page for rehearsal purposes by the Choir Members. You are encouraged to download these music files and serenade your PC while you gain a comfort level with these hymns. I hope that you will enjoy this music and I look forward to seeing all members at rehearsal!

Peter

From our latest rehearsal of last Saturday, here are the hymns that we covered. I took only the last (and hopefully the best) attempt of the particular hymn. In two cases, we never completed in an end to end fashion, the whole hymn. In those two cases I have used the joiner application (yes, it not only splits, but it splices as well!) to give you a completed version. Again, please check on the Resources page for this material. You are encouraged to download these music files and serenade your PC. I look forward to seeing you all at rehearsal!

Peter

I have split and uploaded those hymns from the 150th Anniversary Mass which were recorded on November 1st.They have been placed on the Resources page for rehearsal purposes by the Choir Members. You are encouraged to download these music files and serenade your PC while you gain a comfort level with these hymns. I hope that you will enjoy this music and I look forward to seeing all members at rehearsal!

Peter

On Saturday, September 10th, St. Patrick's hosted over 100 couples in the fall season Marriage Preparation Course. Part of that Course included a review of music appropriate to the liturgical celebration of Marriage. 31 samples of music were provided and they have been included on the Resources page for reflection by the participants of the Marriage Preparation Course. Francesca Bailey, Director of Liturgical Music at St. Patrick's Basilica wishes to express her gratitude and that of the Parish to those musicians who took part: Misty Banyard - Soprano, Sue McGahey - Soprano, Diana Perry - Soprano, Andrea Miller - Soprano, Ruth Leitner - Alto, Michel Rondeau - Trumpet, Kenda Kalverboer - Violin and Jennifer Martinez - Flute. Each of these musicians may be contacted through the Director, Mrs. Bailey, by calling the Basilica's Office.

Peter

The Program from the funeral for Newton Steacy is on the Resources Page, now. Please take the time to listen to this Program and to reflect on the life of someone who brought so much to our Parish. Your prayers for Newton and his family at this time of loss will be most welcomed.

Peter

We have placed on the server, some details concerning the Membership Drive - 2005, for both the Youth Choir and the 12:15 Choir. It includes some details of the Program for the remaining months in 2005.

Please take a look at these pages and, Choir Members, don't forget to review, on a regular basis, the Resources page, to rehearse the 150th Anniversary Mass parts!

Peter

A friendly reminder that this Thursday is the last rehearsal of the season, and next Sunday (the 26th) is our last mass until the Fall.

Today's mass is also online. Have a great summer!

Greg

Today's baptism of Jacquie's son is now online. Today's 12:15 mass is also online.

Greg

Thomas Scheer's baptism from yesterday is now online.

Greg

We've begun splitting recordings this week, so this week's mass is online. We still need to do a lot of work regarding the automation of this process. It's still in its early, experimental stages.

Update: The apostrophe in the first hymn's filename made the Quicktime browser plugin bug out. The filename's now changed. Please note that, to save bandwidth, it's recommended that you save the files to disk instead of streaming in your browser. Right click the link, select 'Save Link As,' or 'Save Target As,' depending on your browser.

Greg

The audio files now require a password for members. This password will be sent out in Peter's next announcement.

Guests: some samples will be made available to the public in the near future.

Update: Recordings are public until we can make sure everyone has access.

Greg

This news comes as a relief to many of us. A new Pope bas been elected, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who has taken on the name, Benedict the Sixteenth. Cardinal Ratzinger was previously the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a good friend of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. He has spoken his first public words as Pope:

Dear brothers and sisters,
after our great Pope, John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard.

I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers.

In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved Mother, stands on our side. Thank you.

For additional information, as it becomes available, see the page on the Vatican website.

Unrelated, a recording has been posted in the resources page, as a proof-of-concept for what will be made available very shortly. I'll be getting in touch with our host to make the recordings area private before uploading additional files.

Greg

Just in time for out Parish's 150th anniverasry, the web site for the Saint Patrick's Basilica Choirs is finally online! Here, you will be able to find the lastest news regarding the choirs, upcoming events and special masses, and, of course, a little fun on the side! Thanks a lot to our friends at Telewatch for graciously providing this hosting for us.

You will be able to look up recordings from the latest practices which Peter has recorded, and dig into a library of the stuff we did right! A more dynamic update system will also be introduced in the coming months.

This page's design should work with any modern browser. It's been tested using Mozilla Firefox 1.0, Mozilla Suite 1.7, and even Internet Explorer 6.0. It was quite the job, involving ugly hacks and compromises, to get the buggy browser, IE, to render the content properly at all. The only thing IE users will be missing out on is the "hover" effect of the navigation--it should remain in place as you scroll the page.

I've got a tough month of exams coming up at the university, so, in the mean time, take care!

Greg