St. Gregory the Great Sacred Music Festival celebrates the beauty of God through music

On Sept. 5, a hundred singers, musicians, and music directors from all over the diocese and beyond gathered together at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino for the St. Gregory the Great Sacred Music Festival. The event featured liturgical and musical formation and culminated in a Missa Cantata (Latin for "sung Mass") and a sacred music concert. The festival included talks by Joseph Greene, Cathedral Coordinator of Music, on beauty, vocal technique, supporting congregational singing, and a Gregorian Chant workshop. Another talk titled, "Sing as the Romans Do" was presented by Ruben Gilbert, Associate Director of the Office of Divine Worship. The response was very enthusiastic, and people were eager to learn more to bring a greater appreciation of sacred music to their parishes. The Missa Cantata was chanted through its entirety by Father Andres Rivera, administrator of St. Andrew's Newman Center in Riverside, and also featured the sung antiphons, motets, and the Missa de Angelis (Mass of the Angels). The concert featured great Catholic works of choral music from Victoria's O Magnum Mysterium, to Franck's Panis Angelicus, as well as two original compositions, "One Thing I Ask" by Joseph Greene, and the world premiere of "Ave Maria, Mater Dolorosa" by Lauren Leon, director of the Choir of St. Hildegard at St. Thomas the Apostle in Riverside. “It was very life-giving to see so many people gather together to celebrate the beauty of God through music,” Greene said. “And we are hopeful that this will lead to a great beautification of the Liturgy throughout our diocese.”