So, That's That

Another Regina Pacis Cantorum season is now in our rearview mirror. Last year at this time, we really weren't sure what we were going to be doing, having lost access to St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral with the departure of the Friars. But God, as He so often does, opens a window when He closes a door.

Last summer, we began a new relationship with Assumption Church in Truckee. We ended up singing there nine times, and the parishioners kindly hosted a reception for us after Christ The King Mass! We enjoyed the eagerness of Fr. Vincent Juan and the congregation to have us, and we hope to be back this fall.

Snow cancelled a couple of our rehearsals and what would have been our tenth visit to Assumption in February.

Our other main venue was, of course, Holy Spirit Mission. We wish Fr. Loy Torrente well as he heads into retirement at last, but maybe we'll still see him saying the EF from time to time. We also appreciate Fr. Charles Ike of the FSSP filling for Corpus Christi. We again thank the Chocolate Nugget for making their parking lot available for well-attended Masses.

We had the honor of singing for Fr. Patrick Klekas' First Mass at Immaculate Conception in Sparks. We may sing for him in the future at St. Albert the Great; stay tuned.

With not as full a schedule as in prior years, Kathy was able to devote rehearsal time to something we can never learn enough of: solfege. Some of us are hearing "Factu-US est repente" in our sleep as an example of a fifth interval.

Kathy had to put up with medical issues of her own and with her loved ones. She had surgery on the second of her eyes, took care of her husband Bob after he had a ladder collapse under him, and spent time with daughter Marli in Henderson when she broke both her bones in her forearm. That visit, however, launched some ties between the schola at St. Bridget's of Las Vegas and RPC. (Oh, and she and Sandy helped rescue this tenor from the ER in Grass Valley.)

We bade farewell to former member Art Hakes. Resquiescat in pace.

Hope you enjoyed the season and have a blessed summer! Kathy, as usual, is heading to the Sacred Music Colloquium in Philadelphia next week (she'll be there on July 4th!).

See you this fall, and bring some sopranos and basses with you! We need 'em. And if you have a Facebook account, like us there.

Your webmaster, who occasionally looks at Kathy for the cutoff,
Paul

You Don't Bring Me Flowers...Oh, Wait

Following a lengthy but excellent Corpus Christi Mass, procession, and potluck brunch, Holy Spirit Mission surprised Kathy with a bouquet of flowers for all her service to the Mission, not just with RPC but the Sunday choir as well. It was a fitting close to our season.

Here are some other photos from the procession, led by Fr. Charles Ike of the FSSP:

Our good friend Suzi Lunt snapped this vertical shot of a few of the tenors (sorry, sopranos, altos, and basses!). Then again, she must have wanted to get a good photo of her son Zach.

Happy Father's Day

Yesterday was our final Mass at Assumption Catholic Church in Truckee for the year. It was our only a cappella Mass there, and we thank Jennifer Cotter for the accompaniment she was able to provide for our other appearances.

It was also Father's Day, so Fr. Vincent Juan asked the fathers to stand so he could pray a blessing over them. He then followed up with a sprinkling of holy water for the congregation...more like a dousing, actually, thanks to the wisk broom he uses! Fr. Vincent even made us choir members feel like we'd just been through the Ice Bucket Challenge.

We enjoyed our year at Assumption, and we hope we're not done there yet! We only missed one Mass due to snow. If you're interested, you can partake of Assumption's 150th anniversary celebration on August 15 (the Feast of the Assumption...we see what you did there). More information is available on Assumption's website or Facebook page.

Congratulations to Fr. Klekas

It was an honor for us to sing for another new priest's First Mass and our third since 2015. Fr. Patrick Klekas is shown here blessing his parents at the end of the Mass at Immaculate Conception in Sparks. He and Fr. Eduardo Gutierrez-Sandoval received the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Bishop Randolph Calvo on Friday night at St. Teresa of Avila in Carson City. Please pray for them, as well as all our priests and for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life!

And Down The Stretch We Come

You can be forgiven for not remembering the name of the horse that won yesterday's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. War of Will got some justice after being forced to slow up in the controversial Kentucky Derby by winning the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. But stealing the show was Bodexpress ("boh-dee" express), who got caught up in a snafu leaving the starting gate, threw his Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez to the ground, and ran the entire race riderless...and didn't finish last. Twitter took to Bodexpress right away.

This is now the home stretch of our season, and we don't have distractions like riderless horses to get in our way. We have plenty of time to prepare for it with our next Mass not until Pentecost which is Sunday, June 9 at Holy Spirit Mission. After that, however, we have 3 Masses in 8 days, or 4 in 14 counting Pentecost:

• First Mass of (soon-to-be) Fr. Patrick Klekas on Saturday, June 15 at Immaculate Conception Church in Sparks, 9 AM (likely an 8:15 call time);
• Trinity Sunday at Assumption in Truckee (snowless this time, we hope!) on Sunday, June 16, 9 AM (also likely an 8:15 call time); and
• Corpus Christi at the Mission with a guest FSSP priest saying a High Mass on Sunday, June 23, 8:30 AM (7:45 likely call time).

We got this.

Fun Fact: I thought Nevada didn't have any horse racing tracks, especially considering you can bet on horse races all across the country at any sportsbook. But each year in Ely, there is horse racing associated with the White Pine County fair in mid-August, and a card in Elko for its county fair just before Labor Day. More info here.

Another First Mass Opportunity

From Kathy. Please contact her if you haven't done so already:

I was contacted...by Rev. Mr. Patrick Klekas [above, courtesy of the Diocese of Reno], a transitional deacon, who will be ordained to the priesthood in June.  He has asked us to sing for his first Mass on Saturday, June 15, at 9 AM at Immaculate Conception Church in Sparks. He has heard a lot about us from Fr. Joe Walsh, whose first Mass we sang for last year, and he assures me that, if he is assigned to a local parish (never a sure thing), he will want us around a lot. Mid-June is always a busy time, but I'm asking that you please make a special effort to do this.  It is so important to support any priest who wants the traditional music of the Church.  Will you please let me know of your participation as soon as possible, so that I can give him an answer? Thank you!

Pax Christi, 

Kathy

While we're speaking of the rest of our schedule, unless you hear something to the contrary, it looks like we will not, repeat, not be singing at Our Lady of Tahoe on Saturday, May 11.

Chocolate Carpooling

(The Giant Prospector near the Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory. Photo credit: Denita Graham, RoadsideAmerica.com; HT to Reno-Tahoe Living on Facebook)

We at RPC greatly appreciate the willingness of the Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory to let us use the unpaved portion of their parking lot to facilitate carpooling to nearby Holy Spirit Mission when the church will be crowded for Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday Masses. The only condition is that they ask us not to use the marked, paved spaces right in front of the store, a reasonable request. Perhaps we can repay the Nugget with a purchase or two; they can certainly use the business.

If you're interested in carpooling with another member or members from the choir to HSM, bass Bill Cotter has volunteered to help coordinate this. Please don't call/email Kathy; you know how not busy she is. You can conceivably walk to HSM from the Nugget lot on the shoulder of Old Highway 395, but even though the traffic volume is nothing like it was before I-580 was built, the speed limit remains 50 mph, so use your own discretion.

Upcoming Chant Education Events

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. If you know of any others, mention away in the comments.

• As she does every year, Kathy will be attending the CMAA's annual colloquium, this time in Philadelphia the week of July 1-6 (how appropriate! Independence National Historical Park is worth the visit, as is the Ben Franklin Institute. But watch where you park!).
• Kathy asked me to make mention of two chant courses at the western end of the Keystone State occurring just before the colloquium. Pittsburgh's Duquesne University, a previous colloquium site, will offer both Chant Intensive and Laus in Ecclesia during the week of June 24-28. Read more about them here after scrolling past the colloquium info.
• That same week, and closer to home, Corpus Christi Watershed and the FSSP are hosting their annual symposium (what's the difference between a colloquium and a symposium? The symposium is intended for choir directors or those who want to become directors, but others are welcome.) in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, registration appears to have ended as of March 31. Our new friends from St. Bridget's in Las Vegas say they intend to be there, but it's a much shorter drive for them than us.

(Related: CCW is holding a fundraiser to keep its site operating past Good Friday (April 19). It has been quite a useful site for me over the years, especially with its sound files and PDFs of chants.)

The Passing Of Another RPCer

Kathy has informed us that Art Hakes, a former choir member, has died. She learned of that via Jan Walker, a friend of Art's and a former member herself.

Please pray for the repose of Art's soul. His funeral will be at the Carmelite Monastery in Reno on April 12 at 10:30 AM.

For him and his soul I post Psalm 130:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD more than the sentinels wait for the dawn.
More than the sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

Making the Most of a Tough Situation

Kathy put a good deal of miles on her Honda in the last week, driving from Reno to Henderson and back to see to her daughter Marli (between her parents above), who broke both bones of her forearm last week. It's going to be a long recovery for her, and her violin playing will have to wait a while. Please keep her in your prayers.

I mentioned last year that Las Vegas had a single Catholic church that offered Extraordinary Form Masses, namely St. Bridget. While tending to Marli, Kathy went to their 10 AM Sunday Mass and got to hear their teen Schola Cantorum Sancta Brigida, directed by Andrea Leaf. Kathy said their music was relatively basic but done quite well. Take a listen to them yourself, either on the web site above or on their Facebook page.

Could a road trip to Las Vegas be in our future? You never know. In any event, it's always good to make the acquaintance of another chant and polyphony choir in the Silver State. God was able to bring this opportunity out of Kathy and Marli's difficult situation; again, please pray for her.

Father, May We?

Why was Summorum Pontificum so necessary? As people have been sharing with New Liturgical Movement, not so long ago the faithful had to not only ask permission, but in some instances complete a permission slip, to have an EF Mass said. Check out this one from the diocese of Buffalo, NY, circa 1985 (click to enlarge, credit: Amy Elisabet and Una Voce Buffalo):

Wow. It could just as well read, "Are you now, or have you ever been, someone who doesn't like how the liturgy was changed, as opposed to how Vatican II said it was going to be changed?" If you know of or have any similar documents, NLM would love to see them. I for one am glad Summorum Pontificum transfers the burden to the diocese or archdiocese who must show why an EF Mass may not be said.

Now, I cannot repeat this enough: the purpose of Regina Pacis Cantorum is not to eliminate the Novus Ordo Mass. We have by far sung for more NO Masses than we have EF Masses, and will continue to do so at Assumption in Truckee and elsewhere. We just want to ensure the opportunity to experience the EF and all the sacred music opportunities in its timeless liturgy are not denied to those who want it, and Pope Emeritus Benedict happily opened the door via Summorum Pontificum.

How Does It Feel To Be One Of The Beautiful People?

In rehearsals, we (and by "we," I mean the tenors) had our struggles with the short Introibo motet that we mixed with the Introibo chant for Communio. I saw Kathy offer up a short prayer to Our Lady Queen of Peace and St. Cecelia just before we started singing it today for Sexagesima at Holy Spirit Mission.

We did pretty well with it, avoiding major stumbles and causing Kathy to offer up a prayer of thanksgiving when we were done. Then, loud and clear, came a review from a little girl critic across the aisle from us:

"That music was beautiful!"

I mentioned earlier that it's inappropriate to applaud in church, but I never said anything about such a comment. We all chuckled, and Kathy gave the girl a hug. Unfortunately, she and her mother left before we could ask if she could sing soprano with us.

That, however, is our purpose: to sing beautiful, sacred music worthy of, and reaching for, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Sunday Looks Iffy, But Stay Tuned

Click to enlarge this timeline for the rest of this week from bass Mark Deutschendorf and his band of merry National Weather Service Reno meteorologists:

We've managed to avoid snow cancelling our "gigs" at Assumption in Truckee so far, but it looks like this Sunday may--emphasis on may--be the first time. Kathy will make the decision and let you know, and I'll keep you posted as well.

Here's a tip: If you want to get an idea of what the NWS Reno brain trust thinks will happen, the most useful portion of their website (IMO) is their Area Forecast Discussion. It's updated at least a couple times a day. From their discussion of 2/13/19, 15:21 PST (I'm glad they don't put it in ALL CAPS anymore, but the caps you see below are from the report itself):

This weekend through the middle of next week, northeast CA and western NV will remain under a large-scale upper trough. This brings high confidence that afternoon temperatures will remain below average through the period, with 20s and 30s for most areas Sunday through Tuesday. At the higher elevations (above 8000 feet), widespread single digits and teens can be expected with deep cold air entrenched over the region. 
 
 As far as precipitation, confidence is high that any showers will be in the form of snow. There will be three waves moving into the upper trough: one Saturday, one Sunday, with a third possible around next Wednesday. As far as snowfall amounts, there are of low confidence as it will depend on the exact track of the waves. Also, with snow being of a convective nature, localized areas could have burst [sic] of heavier snow showers that are unpredictable given their small-scale nature. Keep in mind that while we have light snowfall accumulations forecast for the valleys over the weekend this is for non-paved areas. If snow is not persistently moderate to heavy, or falling between the evening and mid-morning hours, it will have a hard time sticking to roads in areas where the air temperatures are in the ~mid 20s or higher (roads can heat 15-30 degrees above air temperatures in the afternoon this time of year). 
 
BOTTOM LINE FOR THIS WEEKEND: be prepared for slick, snow-covered roads in the higher elevations (pass level) of the Sierra and northeast CA with LENGTHY TRAVEL DELAYS QUITE POSSIBLE. For valleys, periodic slick travel conditions are also possible, mainly between the evening and mid-morning hours. -[Shane] Snyder 

What this amateur meteorologist gleans from this is that we might be able to sing if the snow levels stay high enough, say 7,000 feet or more. But things could change before then, and often do. If we can get there, it will be interesting to see how much snow has been piled up around the Assumption parking lot.

The NWS Reno Facebook and Twitter feeds are worth following also. I-80 California road condition info can be obtained from the CHP Truckee barracks (Facebook, Twitter) or via Caltrans.

Meanwhile, In The Land of OCP...

...a.k.a. Portlandia, comes this pleasantly surprising development:

Archbishop Sample’s pastoral letter encourages worship music that is truly sacred — and he gives objective criteria (Catholic Sentinel)

Archbishop Alexander Sample on Jan. 25 released a pastoral letter to the Archdiocese of Portland on sacred music for Mass, seeking to highlight “perennial truths”: sanctity, beauty and universality. 

“Only music which possesses all three of these qualities is worthy of Holy Mass,” Archbishop Sample writes, explaining that ancient or modern music can qualify but that Gregorian chant is the preferred music for Roman Catholic worship. [...]

“The beauty, dignity and prayerfulness of the Mass depend to a large extent on the music that accompanies the liturgical action,” the archbishop writes.  

And from the letter itself (HT: Corpus Christi Watershed):

Every parish is asked to learn English plainchant settings found in the Roman Missal and should establish a least a small repertoire of Latin Gregorian chants for Mass parts.

Wow. Just wow. It doesn't get more direct than that, and yet it appears His Exellency has done a fine job of not browbeating it into his flock. That Abp. Sample is doing this is not surprising, since he laid the groundwork for a similar occurrence in the Diocese of Marquette, MI when he was bishop there.

We're not supposed to applaud in Church, so let's give His Excellency applause here:

Exit question: Does this new emphasis on sacred music make Portland more weird or less weird?

Why We Do What We Do, Again

Kathy has a tough job as our director, to say the least:

Way too often, I wonder what will become of RPC when Kathy gets called to her eternal reward, which I certainly hope is no time soon! Quite simply put, sacred music is not the most important thing in her life. It IS her life. I have tried to convey the enormity of the job Kathy has, including here and here.

Now, the staff at Corpus Christi Watershed has put together a "Church Music Manifesto" discussing the state of today's Catholic liturgical music. Please take the time to read it, understanding that Kathy has the additional task of finding us places to sing because we are not affiliated with a diocese or parish (remember, Assumption in Truckee is part of the Diocese of Sacramento). Not only does it show the enormity of what she's dealing with, but the task ahead for anyone else who deigns for follow in her footsteps.

Here's just one paragraph, into which I intersperse my comments:

The Second Vatican Council attempted to restore and elevate the Mass Propers, but this didn’t happen; less than 1% of Catholics who attend Mass each Sunday realize the Propers exist [myself included, despite--or because of--16 years of Catholic education]. Incredibly, it has become standard practice to replace the Propers with every manner of song: I’ve even heard rap at Mass! In this situation, people have come to believe Protestant hymnody to be the best church music [as late as 2004, I was agitating for more "praise and worship" music in the Liturgy, confiteor]. In particular, some now think of Episcopal texts as the supreme form of Catholic liturgical music. While I admit they’re often better than the drivel sung in certain churches, how far we’ve sunk as Catholics if such hymns are considered our ultimate goal. Indeed, the Brébeuf Hymnal could not have come at a better time: we need it! Needless to say, the changes in the liturgy which occurred after Vatican II—and incidentally went much further than what the Council Fathers authorized—have caused great confusion, and the Consilium gave no thought to the musical implications of their alterations [I contend they knew very well what they were doing. They were quite aware of Sacrosanctum Concilium; they just ignored/nullified it]. This confusion is partially to blame for the misinformed belief that Episcopal hymns are the pinnacle of Catholic worship. The truth is that Roman Catholic hymns are far and away the greatest, most ancient, most beautiful, and most theologically rich songs for the liturgy: Full Stop.

We can expect little to no support, and perhaps even opposition, from the Church hierarchy for any of this restoration of traditional music. Besides, they make spoon-fed OCP and GIA so easy for today's DRMs (I named names, Mr. Ostrowski). Fortunately, they're too busy avoiding doing anything about the sexual abuse crisis to notice this quiet revolution in the pews. For example, in the comments to this article, one reader said she had started a schola in her parish...in the Yukon territory of Canada. I think we can keep carrying on in Nevada and California.