THE WEDNESDAY REPORT: January 14, 2026

Dear Partners in Ministry,

Ordinary Time is ever-so-briefly upon us! Over the five weeks remaining until Lent, we pivot to a scaled-down set of familiar acclamations while gearing up for the Lenten Season to come.

No Parish Choir Rehearsal tomorrow night

As you know, we have yet another winter storm warning hanging over our heads, and, with a very familiar body of music to sing this weekend, let's just call it off. Bell Choir is still on as scheduled unless Greg makes a different call.

Next Thursday, we'll focus on everything we need to finish off Ordinary Time, and begin preparing Lenten selections.

The Near Future

At the 9:00 Mass, we'll celebrate the OCIA Rite of Introduction with four wonderful people who will complete their initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil. The only changes musically will be a simple sung response during the Signing of the Senses; a slightly delayed Gathering Song; and a near-instant switch to the Glory to God (have it ready!).

On Sunday, January 25, I'll be on the road to St. Louis for the 2026 Liturgical Composers Forum. I'm happy to share that Mary Hrich, Director of the Office for Worship for the Diocese, will be at the piano for the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses.

Thursday, January 28 is currently a no-rehearsal night, since I'll still be out of town.

2026 Resolutions, Part 3: The Music Turn-In Tracker

I have several "New Year's Resolutions" for our Music Ministry on my radar, and I'll be sharing these with you over the next several weeks:

The creation of an advisory board for Music Ministry (see WR, Dec 31; nominations are now open)
New online resources for learning music (Music Learning Library; link under "Resources" at the end of this post)
New online resource for keeping track of returned scores (see below)
Reducing our dependence on the JourneySongs Choir hymnal (Jan 21)
A new direction for anthems and meditation pieces for the choir (February)

Another Google Sheets project to share this week, this one geared toward helping you and our librarians keep track of all that music!

The Music Turn-In Tracker is now online and available to you. This is a running list of all the music I've asked you to turn in each weekend (which, by and large, you've been doing very well.... thank you!) However, when you're gone over a weekend or when life gets busy, I know it gets difficult to keep up. This list should clear up any doubts about whether or not you should hang on to any piece of music in your folder (or desk, or car, or....)

The link to this new resource is here, and also has have a place alongside other resources at the bottom of every Wednesday Report. Please look through this list, which you can sort by library number and date turned in, and check it against all the music you currently have. Beginning this weekend, please turn in anything you have.

If it's there in black, give it back. Pieces that are due (or overdue!) are in bold and black print in the list, along with the date they were to be turned in.
If it's there in gray, not today. Any items that are greyed out (like this) will be due to turn in soon, but not yet... you still need them.

For now, this list goes all the way back to last Ash Wednesday (which, I sincerely hope, covers everything you have). Once we reach this year's Ash Wednesday, I'll cut that list down to the last six months.

All the usual rules apply: place your number on the top right corner of the cover before turning in; do not return "TEMP" scores, song sheets, or other outdated materials; recycle them instead.

Reminder: Nominations for MM Advisory Committee Now Open

Nominations are now being accepted for section and ensemble representatives for the Music Ministry Advisory Committee. I'm looking for five representatives from Parish Choir (one for each section: Soprano I, Soprano II, Alto, Tenor, Bass); a representative to join Greg for Bell Choir; and one rep each for Cantors and Resurrection Choir. Just a few rules:

I will personally contact each nominated member and ask them to discern whether they are willing to serve if elected. If they decline, I will respect their decision and leave them off the ballot.
No self-nominations. You must be nominated by a peer.
No "campaigning." Let your good work speak for itself!
Nominees must have been a regularly participating member of their ensemble for at least one year.
Nominees cannot represent more than one ensemble. In the event that one person is elected to more than one position, they will be asked to choose one role; for the other(s), the person who received the next highest vote total will be chosen.

The election for Representatives will take place the week of January 19–23 by online poll. Only I will know who voted for whom.

Peace be with you,
Tony

REHEARSAL AGENDA: January 8

We'll rehearse all together until 8:30, then I'll stick around for work with cantors on Psalms for this weekend, Feb 8, and Feb 15.

Weekend Repertoire:

JS 516 · Baptized in Water (BUNESSAN/Saward)
JS 32 · Ps 29: The Lord Will Bless His People with Peace (Canter)
JS 253 · Mass of Glory: Lamb of God (Canedo/Hurd)
3.062 · Christ Has No Body Now but Yours (Warner)
5.100-4 · ACH 4 · Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (IN DULCE JUBILO)
3.047 · O Christ Our Life (Ward) review/clean up harmony, time permitting

THIS WEEK IN LITURGY

JANUARY 18: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

OCIA: RITE OF INTRODUCTION, 9:00 am Mass

READINGS: Read online at usscb.org
Lectionary for Mass: 64
2026 Workbook: p. 49
Breaking Bread 2026: p. 61
Cantors: Rich W (5:00); Pam P (9:00); Greg E (11:00)

MUSIC SELECTIONS:

Seasonal acclamations change this weekend.... changes highlighted in green.

Gathering: 433 · JS 620 · All the Earth (Deiss)
Glory to God: 864 · 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Responsorial Psalm: 755 · JS 43 · Ps 40: Here I Am/God, My God, Come to My Aid (Cooney)
Gospel Acclamation: 927 · JS 264 · Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker)
Prayer of the Faithful: spoken response
Preparation of the Gifts: 309 · 3.081 · Here At This Table (Whitaker)
Eucharistic Acclamations: 864 · 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
- Holy · When We Eat This Bread · Amen
Lamb of God: 930 · 3.090 · Lamb of God/Taste and See (Kendzia)
Communion: 328 · 3.079 · Bread of Life (Farrell)
Sending Forth: 464 · 3.091 · Christ, Be Our Light (Farrell)

LOOKING AHEAD

JANUARY 25: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

NOTE: Tony out on Sunday; Mary Hrich joins you for the 9 and 11.

READINGS: Read online at usscb.org
Lectionary for Mass: 67
2026 Workbook: p. 52
Breaking Bread 2026: p. 63
Cantors: Tony (5:00); Charlie M (9:00); Mary P (11:00)

MUSIC SELECTIONS:

Gathering: 301 · JS 771 · Our God Is Here (Muglia)
Glory to God: 864 · 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Responsorial Psalm: 745 · JS 30 · Ps 27: The Goodness of the Lord (Soper)
Gospel Acclamation: 927 · JS 264 · Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts: 548 · JS 640 · Christ Before Us (SUO GÁN/Whitaker)
Eucharistic Acclamations: 864 · 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
- Holy · When We Eat This Bread · Amen
Lamb of God: 930 · 3.090 · Lamb of God (Kendzia)
Communion: 358 · 3.090 · Taste and See (Kendzia)
Sending Forth: 382 · JS 813 · City of God (Schutte)

FEBRUARY 1: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

READINGS: Read online at usscb.org
Lectionary for Mass: 70
2026 Workbook: p. 56
Breaking Bread 2026: p. 65
Cantors: Jack G (5:00); Karin O (9:00); Anthony S (11:00)

MUSIC SELECTIONS:

Gathering: 579 · JS 593 · Lift Up Your Hearts (O’Connor)
Glory to God: 864 · 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Responsorial Psalm: 800 · JS 115 · Ps 145: I Will Praise Your Name/The Hand of the Lord Feeds Us (Soper)
Gospel Acclamation: 927 · JS 264 · Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts: 1012 · 3.062 · Christ Has No Body Now but Yours (Warner)
Eucharistic Acclamations: 864 · 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
- Holy · When We Eat This Bread · Amen
Lamb of God: 930 · 3.090 · Lamb of God (Kendzia)
Communion: 1026 · 3.070 · The Blessed and Broken (Ward)
Sending Forth: 547 · JS 639 · Earthen Vessels (Foley)