ENCOUNTERING
CHRIST IN THE CHOIR
A DAY RETREAT FOR ALL CHORISTERS
REV. FR. (DR.) JAMES URIEN
IS THE CHOIR AIDING YOUR SPIRITUALITY
• Many of you joined the choir with hope of going closer to God and
finding a strong spiritual path. Now, have you found Christ? Is the choir
aiding or hindering you? Are you happy to service in the choir? Do you
think the choir is living up to expectation? What could be the
foundation of the choir’s spirituality? How do we perceive and
understand the choir? Is it a social group, performers, ministers or
school? What is wrong with our choirs today? Can the choir be
spiritually rooted again? How do we go about that?
THE CHOIR
• The choir is very important in our church and places a special role in our liturgical and para-
liturgical activities. Next to the role played by the priest in every parish within the mass, is
the role of the choir. They ought to be the angelic choir of heaven. They are part of the people
that pull God’s glory to the church in their praise, worship and thanksgiving. The choir leads
the congregation in worship. It is a leadership role of bringing the congregation to the
consciousnesses of God’s presence. Everyone hears the choir before they hear from the
priest. The choir bring a particular energy to the church. Sometimes, they bring positive
energies and at other times, they bring negative energies.
• Music is linked to spirituality. It conveys deep emotions, soul lifting, strong connectivity,
energetic experience, healing etc. The choir aids spirituality in the church. The therapeutic
effect is much.
THE CREATOR OF SONGS
• Powerful songs are not just sounds but lyrics. The lyrics of liturgical songs is the scripture.
Christ is the author of songs. To be good in songs is to connect to the author of songs. If
you know Christ so well, His spirit will be at work in you when you sing.
• Choirs must listen to God’s word to get inspirations for their songs. The word of God is
so powerful.
• Am happy the choir belong to the “C” group. Christ, Creator, Catholic Church,
Congregation, Clergy, Choir, Charismatic. It is good to belong to the “C” group in the
house of God. The choir should lead the congregation and clergy to Christ following the
liturgical pattern of the Catholic Church.
ABIDE IN CHRIST
• Read through Jn 15:1-11.
• To abide is to stay, wait, rest, live and develop an intimate relationship with Christ.
• Abiding in Christ makes one to bear spiritual fruits( Jam 5:7; Gal 5:22-23)
• Abiding in Christ makes one aware of God’s presence( 1Jn 4:13)
• Abiding in Christ makes one obedient(Lk 8:15)
• Abiding in Christ makes one a loving person( 1Jn 2:10-11).
• Abiding in Christ frees one from habitual sins( 1Jn 3:6)
• Abiding in Christ makes one steadfast in the faith( 1Cor 7:24)
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST
• A chorister cannot succeed without Christ and His church. A chorister must know
Christ.You must be led by the spirit of God and not other spirits.
• You must have a personal relationship with Christ. Beginning with baptism, reception of
the Holy Eucharist and sacrament of reconciliation.
• You must be prayerful and participate wholeheartedly during liturgical celebrations.
• You must witness to the gospel by a life style worth of the gospel.
• You must be rooted in the word of God with deep faith and understanding
• You must learn to sing pray fully to God. He who sings well prays twice.
REASONS CONGREGATION DOES NOT SING AT
MASSES
• They don’t know the songs. It is good to sing new songs but consider the congregation.
• The songs are difficult for the congregation to follow
• Sometimes the choir is singing in too high keys for the congregation to adjust to.
• The congregation can’t hear the pronunciation of the words
• The choir leader is not connecting with the congregation
• The worship looks like performance.
• Using songs not in the hymnal or projected for the people.
• The choir doesn’t encourage the congregation to join as they hijack the songs.
SINGING IS NOT ENOUGH
• Singing alone can not save you. Anybody can sing. But singing prayerfully will make a huge
different. To sing prayerfully is to direct the attention to God and not self. Most times, we look
for applaud/ acknowledgment/ appreciation in our singing. Remember that the songs are for
God and not you.
• Let the singing be an offering of yourself to God. Don’t attempt to take the place of God in
your singing.
• You should also make your singing holy by being in the state of grace. You ought to offer holy
grace to God. Most singing have not the desired effects but of the unholy foundation of songs.
How can you come from the house of fornication, hatred, wickedness, disobedience etc and
expect God to be present in your singing?
CHALLENGES IN THE CHOIR
• Pride( No one is indispensable). All parts are important. God can also do without you.
• Lack of leadership training.
• Lack of frequent support from the church
• Entitlement mentality
• Accountability
• Failure in promoting catholic songs
• Disunity
• Indiscipline/immoral behaviours
• Performing instead of participating
GOOD SINGING TIPS FOR CHORISTERS
• Good singing requires disposition. Be properly disposed for every celebration. Be punctual,
avoid conflicts and unrepentant attitude.
• Know what the celebration is about. Read the scriptural text before Mass. The songs should
reflect the theme.
• Be in control of your voice. Confidence is key here. A good voice must be matched with
confidence.
• Get a good tone. Good tone attracts people.
• Be audible in the singing and pronounce your words distinctly. A suitable volume is good.
Know when to be loud and soft.
GOOD SINGING TIPS
CONTINUE
• Stand erect, sit up or kneel properly.
• Singing requires good breathe control. Regular voice training can help
• Know how to interpret a song. Learn to listen to yourself.
• Know your voice range and stay within it.
• Care for your voice. Stop shouting and straining the voice
• Watch what you eat/drink that effect voice
• Be vast in music. Move out of your comfort zone.
ADMONITION
• Develop ministerial behaviour during liturgical celebrations.
• Limit reward mentality. Use the choir to work out your salvation.
• Go for confession frequently
• Pray before ministering to the congregation
• Be more united than ever
• Work closely with your priest
• Develop your gift/talent
• Manage rehearsal time properly.
• Recruitment must follow the church’s directives
