Ordinary Time

Today is the second of seven Sundays between the Christmas season and Lent.

You will notice a change in the musical setting of the sung parts of the mass. The refrain to the Gloria, for example, will no longer be from the hymn Angels We Have Heard on High. Instead we will return to “The Mass of Renewal” which can be found at numbers 862, 865, 866, 869, and 870.

I plan on introducing 3 new songs during this portion of ordinary time. 

The first is Tend The Ground (#616).  The composer of the words and music is Curtis Stephan. (Stephan is also the composer of the Mass of Renewal.)

Stephan was inspired to compose this song after reading Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si”.  “Laudato Si” is a quotation from St. Francis of Assisi praising God for the creation of the different creatures and aspects of the earth.  It translates as “Praised Be” or “Be Praised.”

One of the aspects of the Holy Father’s writings that struck me was his linking the care of the earth with the care of the poor and marginalized.  He exhorts all to see the care of both as our response to God’s gift of life. 

Here is the chorus of Tend the Ground:

We till the earth, we tend the ground,

Sowing hope and peace where none is found

In selfless love God’s life abounds.

We till the earth, we tend the ground.

Words and music by Curtis Stephan

The presentation scheduled for last week has been rescheduled to Sunday, February 17^th at 3 p.m. in Walsh Hall.  Come learn more about how we at St. Mary’s can praise God by taking care of God’s creation.  E-mail basegall@yahoo.com to be on our social concerns e-mail list.

Blest to be in ministry with you here at St. Mary’s,

Bruce