The air buzzes with anticipation at the first all-school mass of the year. The familiar notes of the guitar strings invite students to participate in a new way of mass – a lively celebration accompanied by praise and worship music. For many, this shift from traditional choral music to contemporary worship marks a transformation in how the school engages students in their faith.
Sophia Nguyen, a junior choir member, sat among her peers consumed by a mix of nerves and excitement before she led the chorus.
“As a student, I feel like not a lot of people sing along because it can be awkward and make you feel singled out if you’re the only one singing,” Nguyen said.
After over 25 years of the liturgical choir leading mass, the staff recently made the choice to introduce a new music style –worship and praise music– and move on from the traditional ways of mass. This change aims to encourage student involvement during mass, hopefully curating a more spiritually interactive environment.
Bishop Miege President Phil Baniewicz thought many students seemed content with sitting back and not participating in the music at mass. Baniewicz also shared that a time for change was agreed upon by other faculty.
“I wanted more students to sing, and the worship music heard at teen retreats and masses are more relatable to teens,” Mr Baniewicz said. “Mass is not a spectator sport; people are called to engage themselves in the mass, and singing is one of the easiest ways to do that.”
The introduction to this new era has received a warm welcome from many students, including senior choir member Emma Masters who helped lead in the first praise and worship mass.
“I think worship music takes people to a different place spiritually and allows them to connect with Jesus in a way they haven’t been able to before,” Masters said. “I love getting to see all the other students start to really open up during worship by singing along or lifting their hands.”
Singing along offers an opportunity for student collaboration in the mass with the worship leader Wade McNutt, a professional praise and worship singer brought into the community to guide masses. Masters was the first student to take advantage of this opportunity as she expressed that she often sings worship songs during her youth group outside of school.
“This was more relaxing than other choir performances, just because I’ve sung worship music more than chorally arranged music,” Masters said.
However, the switch also holds back seniors who hoped to lead in traditional choral music at school mass. In past years, choir leaders from the senior class guided the congregation through mass themselves, fostering a sense of community leadership and responsibility amongst the class.
“The senior choir students who do lead mass really want to be there and it inspires others to sing,” choir director Robin Christie said. “I know myself and the students have had some of our most inspirational moments while singing at mass together, and I hope to bring that back at some point.”
Overall, students find this change to be positive and helpful in participation. Mr. Baniewicz stated that this style of music will continue to be a prominent part of mass while also including choral arrangements back into mass. “Seeing more students singing and responding to the priest is our end goal, and I think we’re already seeing that with this new choice of music,” Baniewicz said.
