Music Ministry

Every member of our parish is invited to participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist through the sung and spoken word. In this sense, each one of us is called to participate in music ministry. Just as it takes many small pieces of diverse glass to make up our beautiful stained glass windows, so too does it take the voices of the entire assembly, priest and people, to make a beautiful offering of sung praise to our loving God.

There are people in our parish who have been blessed with particularly fine and perhaps even trained voices. The priests and musicians at Saint James invite you to consider devoting a little extra time each week by joining with those currently involved in the formal music ministry programs at St. James. We seek a degree of vocal talent, a willingness to further develop this talent and the gift of your time.

Participation in the choir offers many benefits. One becomes more attuned to the liturgy and the rhythms of the liturgical year. The Psalms and hymns become more familiar and can nurture one’s spiritual life. There is also great camaraderie in the choir.

Saint James currently has seven Masses in English each weekend. Three of the Masses (5:00pm on Saturday, 9:00 am and Noon) are celebrated with organ music and a cantor. During the school year, the children’s choir often sings at the 9:00 a.m. Mass, on feast days and for other special events.

The adult choir sings every Sunday for the 10:30 am Mass. The repertory for the 10:30 choir consists of a wide range of genres, from chant to polyphony as well as traditional hymns. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from October through May at 7:30 pm with a 30-minute warm-up before 10:30 Mass each Sunday.

The music for the Sunday 7:00 pm Mass offers new Christian music that is especially appealing to teens and young adults. With acoustic and bass guitar, percussion, violin and keyboards, the music is a blend of contemplative Catholic settings from Steubenville’s Jim Cowan or John Michael Talbot to upbeat praise and worship songs from young artists like Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Ike Ndolo, Mac Powell and others that may be heard on Christian radio stations or YouTube. We welcome new vocalists and instrumentalists, especially those familiar with contemporary Christian music. The group practices at 6:00pm on Sunday nights right before Mass and have an extended practice once a month.

Join Our Music Ministry

To join a choir, contact the director of that group. If you are interested in becoming a cantor, talk with our music director, Don Carolina, after any of the Sunday morning Masses, send an email or call the rectory office at 703-532-8815 for more information.

Adult Choir
10:30am Mass
Rehearsals on Thursday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:00pm and from 9:50am to 10:20am on Sundays.
Contac Don Carolina
703-532-8815

Children’s Choir
9:00am Mass (as scheduled), feast days & special events
Rehearsals on Thursday evenings
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Contact Natalie Keffalas
703-533 -1182 x133

Hispanic Choir
2:30pm Mass
Adely Monge

Sunday Evening Choir
7:00pm Mass
Rehearsals at 6:00pm Sundays + monthly extended rehearsals
Contact Diana Banister
703-538-1009