Liturgical Ministries
Students from all class years have the opportunity to serve as altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, ministers of hospitality (greeters), sacristans, and music ministers at all of our liturgies.
Liturgical Ministries Program
All lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ministers of hospitality (greeters), sacristans, and musicians are members of our liturgical ministry program. During the fall and spring semesters, we have a rolling application process, and students are invited to meet with the campus ministers to join the program. All students meet frequently for ongoing spiritual formation and community building. These meetings enrich their spiritual lives with discussions and speakers on faith, justice, and different types of prayer, as well as offering community-building opportunities for service.
Our training includes theological overviews of ministry and the Eucharist, as well as in-depth explanations of the parts of the Mass and their specific liturgical roles. New ministers are assigned mentors to guide them through their training. Anybody interested in joining the program should reach out to our Director of Music and Liturgy, Dan Horstmann
All students involved in liturgical and music ministries have the opportunity to attend combined retreats in the fall (overnight) and spring (single-day).
Music Ministry
Church musicians are called to proclaim the Gospel through the universal language of music. Every Mass participates in the eternal, heavenly liturgy, and the music ministry at Fairfield University strives to provide liturgical music that is worthy of this great calling.
We enhance the prayer of our worshiping community and seek to use music that not only encourages participation but also lifts our hearts and minds to heaven.
Our goal is to help the choir members and instrumentalists develop their God-given gifts and talents. Through our rehearsal process, we are not only refining our art in service of the Church, but we are also preparing our hearts, minds, and voices to enter into the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
Join Us!
We are actively recruiting for our music program at the chapel. If you like to sing or play an instrument and feel called to share your gift, contact Director of Chapel Music, Dan Horstmann, to get involved.
Student musicians assist in providing music at the Sunday 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. liturgies, as well as on Holy Days or other major occasions. Choirs and Ensembles rehearse during the week (Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.) and on Sundays the hour before Mass begins.
Our Musicians
STUDENT CANTOR PROGRAM
5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Masses
We sing from the Church's treasury of sacred music each Sunday. Join the Cantor Program group if you would like to sing beautiful hymns and contemporary music that will nourish you musically and spiritually. No prior musical experience is necessary, only the ability to match pitch! We will help you make the most of the instrument that God gave you! Cantors are scheduled and assigned weekends to sing. Individual rehearsals are scheduled with the Director of Music and Liturgy during the week.
THE GRACE NOTES CHAPEL CHOIR
7:30 p.m. Sunday Mass
This choir sings a combination of traditional and contemporary Catholic hymns and songs as well as Christian praise and worship meditation songs. Singers, guitarists, bassists, band/wind instrument players, drummers, etc. are encouraged. No prior singing experience is necessary, only the ability to match pitch. We will help you make the most of the instrument that God gave you! Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. and Sundays from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. in the chapel.
Instrumentalists
We are always seeking instrumentalists to strengthen our ensembles at each Mass. Guitarists, percussionists, and solo instrumentalists (flute, violin, cello, saxophone, trumpet, etc.) are all welcome! Instrumentalists attend rehearsals with the choirs.
