St. Louis: Archbp. Burke creates an Institute of Sacred Music

With a tip of the biretta to St. Louis Catholic, I share the following great news:

TO: THE PRESBYTERATE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT LOUIS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN CURIA

FROM: ARCHBISHOP RAYMOND L. BURKE

REGARDING: CREATION OF THE INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC IN THE OFFICE OF SACRED WORSHIP, AND APPOINTMENT OF FATHER SAMUEL F. WEBER, O.S.B., AS THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE

DATE: APRIL 4, 2008 – MEMORIAL OF SAINT ISIDORE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

It gives me great joy to announce the creation of the Institute of Sacred Music in the Office of Sacred Worship of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. I am also happy to announce the appointment of Father Samuel F.Weber, O.S.B., as the first Director of the Institute of Sacred Music, effective May 12th next.

The Institute of Sacred Music is part of the Office of Sacred Worship and is under the supervision of Father William W. McCumber, Director of the Office of Sacred Worship. It has been established to assist me inproviding a fuller cultivation of Sacred Music for the celebration of the complete Roman Rite. Among the activities of the Institute will be the following: 1) programs of education in Sacred Music, especially Gregorian Chant, for parish musicians, musicians of other Archdiocesan institutions and interested individuals; 2) assistance to parishes with the singing of the Mass in English, for example, the Entrance Antiphon, the Responsorial Psalm and the Communion Antiphon; 3) assistance withthe singing of the Liturgy of the Hours; 4) assistance to parishes which wish to develop a schola cantorum for the singing of Gregorian Chant; 5) programs for the full implementation of the English translation of the Roman Missal in the Archdiocese; and 6) particular assistance to the programs of Sacred Music at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.

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27 Comments

  1. Every time I hear Apb. Burke mentioned, he’s raising the bar for the Episcopacy in the United States. Usually, the best thing to come out of St. Louis is Interstate-70. But Huzzah, Archbishop Burke! IMHO, if this continues, they should start sizing him for a red hat.

  2. James says:

    This is phenomenal! A true pastor who is bringing about a New Liturgical Movement. This is a bishop who actually knows how to take concrete steps toward ecclesial renewal.

  3. Pope Evaristus, Martyr says:

    Pretty Amazing!

    I am sure that Bishop Burke will be rewarded in Heaven.

  4. thetimman says:

    Thanks for the biretta tip, Father!

  5. peretti says:

    Burke, Bruskewitz and Burbidge are the best

  6. Marilyn says:

    I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this news. I am a member of the Oratory of Saints Gregory and Augustine in the St. Louis Archdiocese; we celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, and Fr. Weber has visited our parish twice (at Christmas and during Holy Week) to help with the high mass and the Triduum. He is truly an amazing priest and we will be lucky to have him here.

  7. Jacob says:

    I need to move south aways it seems. ;)

  8. A blesing indeed. Apparently my move to the east is coming in the near future. I’m apparently in the wrong Archdiocese. Let us pray that he continues in true shepardship. I’ll definately be involved by taking many trips there.

  9. This is wonderful news! Blessings in abundance upon His Grace and upon Father Samuel!

  10. Melody says:

    I hope Rome takes proper notice of the good Bishop. He’s a model for how the job should be done. May God bless him and holy Mary pray for him!

  11. Antonio says:

    Wonderful indeed!!!!

  12. Daniel Muller says:

    A bishop doing what the Pope has asked: there should be a school of sacred music in every diocese.

    Diocesan music schools, well or poorly implemented, are not so uncommon in Mexico. Here, there seems to be a lack of interest. All the more notable, then, is His Excellency’s action.

  13. Aelric says:

    Another Archbishop Burke masterpiece: his homily at the ordination and installation of Bishop Vann Johnston can be found here: http://www.archstl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=395&Itemid=1

  14. Sid Cundiff says:

    Since Oct last I have been helping Fr. Weber as usher and communicator with the MEF at Davis Chapel, Wake Forest U, Winston-Salem. Our great loss in St. Louie’s great gain.

  15. TNCath says:

    Wouldn’t it be a blessing if this man became a cardinal! This is wonderful news. Archbishop Burke is a bishop who “gets it!”

  16. Matt Q says:

    Peretti wrote:

    “Burke, Bruskewitz and Burbidge are the best.”

    )(

    Yes, but let’s not forget George of Chicago. He’s given two great churches to the Canons Regular of St John Cantius, and another to the Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest. :)

    Oh, one more plug for Burke. He’s given a convent to Rosaland Moss of Catholic Answers and EWTN, to found her new traditional community. Yes, Rosaland is becoming a nun and already she has several candidates lined up. So cool.

    ==========

    Marilyn wrote:

    “I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this news. I am a member of the Oratory of Saints Gregory and Augustine in the St. Louis Archdiocese; we celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, and Fr. Weber has visited our parish twice (at Christmas and during Holy Week) to help with the high mass and the Triduum. He is truly an amazing priest and we will be lucky to have him here.”

    Jacob wrote:

    “I need to move south aways it seems. ;)”

    Joe of St. Thérèse wrote:

    “A blessing indeed. Apparently my move to the east is coming in the near future. I’m apparently in the wrong Archdiocese. Let us pray that he continues in true shephardship. I’ll definitely be involved by taking many trips there.”

    )(

    Sounds like St Louis or Chicago is the place to be, but at the same time, I’ll stick around here in Los Agonies and work at doing what one can to get things done here. When that day comes, it will be a great day. ;)

  17. TJM says:

    Egads! What will Archbishop Burke think of next? He supports Orthodoxy, he supports the TLM, and now Sacred Music. I’m so happy for the good people of the St. Louis Archdiocese. I’m hoping Cardinal George will follow suit here in Chicago. I’m not complaining about Cardinal George who is also supportive of traditional Catholic worship but it would be a huge boost to the sacred music movement if such an approach were initiated here. Tom

  18. G says:

    Talk of Chicago and sacred music has me
    wondering… exactly what is the relationship between the Archdiocese and GIA, otherwise the Acronym-That-Forgot-What-It-Stood-For?

    (Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

  19. magdalen says:

    Makes me wish I lived in St. Louis!

    And even though I am not young, all the traditional music and chant
    is totally foreign to me! Isn’t that sad? I feel as if I have been
    denied my heritage.

    It is my firm hope to be a part of a new FSSP community one day and to
    relish a greater fullness of faith in the Mass and the music.

  20. Mary says:

    God be praised for this Bishop!

  21. Matt: I definately agree, I’m thinking of moving east for formation for the priesthood.

  22. Warren Anderson says:

    A very good idea, the Institute. The language and music of the Liturgy has been co-opted by misguided or malicious people for too long. Most people get their theological formation vis à vis the music. Let’s face it, the schlock that passes as music in parishes these days is barely Catholic and most often concerned more with neutering God and not offending anyone than properly leading people to Him. The sooner we rescue the Mass from the hands of people addicted to musical junk food and bad taste the sooner people will be restored to health on a diet of beautiful, God centred music.

  23. Jeremy says:

    Aelric –

    Thank you SO MUCH for that link. I had emailed the St Louis Archdiocese and the Sprinfield/Cape Girardeu Diocese to see if I could get a text of it. I watched the live webcast and was amazed by it. Bishop Johnston even said, in his final remarks, that it was the best homily he’d ever heard.

  24. I wonder if someone can get the audio for that sermon?

  25. RichR says:

    Archbishop Burke is a rock, but he also needs prayers. It is hard to stand tall in the winds of chaos and confusion.

  26. Susanna says:

    This is all really great. Archbishop Burke has done a lot, but there are a lot of people in St. Louis who do not see the good in what he is doing. I know a lot of them personally. Please pray for the conversion of the people of St. Louis and like RichR said for Archbishop Burke.

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