Diocese-Recommended Mass Settings

Eau Claire, WI: "At Immaculate Conception Parish in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, we chose Dan Schutte's "Mass of Christ the Savior" because we liked the melodies, thought it was accessible for the congregation, the accompanists enjoyed playing the accompaniments, and we can dress it up or dress it down and use it the whole recommended year while the people get the new words under their belts. We needed a Mass our congregation wouldn't tire of, since normally we use five or six different Masses in a year. Having it in "Breaking Bread" made it easy to use, since we just needed to get the octavos for the choirs and a few extra accompaniment supplements to accommodate all the different accompanists' books." - Colleen Garnevicus, Music Director at Immaculate Conception Parish in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Lacrosse Diocese

Colbert, WA: "I chose Dan Schutte's Mass of Christ the Savior. Our music groups are small and of various musical talents. This mass is very melodic, the phrases flow where you anticipate them to, making them easier to learn (for both the music liturgists and the congregation)" - Jewel Smalley, Music Coordinator at St. Joseph Parish in Colbert, WA

Albany, NY: "the "Mass of Christ the Savior" was melodically beautiful, had a consistent melodic theme throughout, was readily accessible to my choir and instrumentalists, and provided an easily learned introduction to the new text for my congregation." Richard Putorti, Director of Music at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in the Diocese of Albany

San Francisco, CA: "We listened to a lot of Masses and this is the one we liked best. The words in the Gloria fit the music well and the verse/refrain structure is easier to learn." – Fr. Jose Rubio, Director of Liturgy at St. Patrick's Seminary.

Rapid City, SD: "Our Bishop wanted us to use something new—a new setting for the new words. The Mass of Renewal has an energy to it. Once learned, it is easy to sing and the accompaniment is rich and full." – Fr. Michael Mully, Diocese of Rapid City

Fort Worth, TX: "Gentle Contemporary genre; through-composed Gloria; Simple melody which would be good for a small parish with a minimum of musicians and few resources; will appear in OCP Breaking Bread Hymnal; very do-able especially for masses with only guitars; good for youth and only cantor and guitar; Nolan High school is looking at this mass as well." – Fort Worth NPM Chapter Core Committee

Anchorage, AK: "I was on a subcommittee for the archdiocese of Anchorage, AK. We chose the Mass of Renewal for use during the first 6 months of the new roman missal. I chose this setting as my favorite from OCP because it had the most unique and new sound. The melodies and beautiful and should be easy to teach." - Travis Harrington, Contemporary Choir Director at St. Andrew in Anchorage, AK

Las Vegas, NV: "The Mass of Renewal will be used at two of our five masses (the children's and teen masses). We chose it because it's easy to teach the children's choir and the teens, it's going to be easy to teach to our congregation, the melody throughout the setting is very very similar and that it was something that in a year or two, we could teach the adult choir and have all the masses singing it to unify the church and make it easy for people to go to other masses and feel welcome." - Anthony Gugino, Music Minister at St. Viator Catholic Community in the Diocese of Las Vegas, NV

Thibodaux, LA: "I know that for the children I am liking the Mass of Renewal it is lively and they seem to be catching on quickly and are enjoying actually singing the mass parts where as before they thought they were boring. That was there words." - Laurie Britt, Children's CCD Choir Director and teacher at St. Charles Borromeo in Thibodaux, LA

Denver, CO: "Praise & Worship Setting. Ascending main theme and accompaniments to fit both traditional ensembles and modern worship style groups." Archdiocese of Denver Music Committee

Cincinnati, OH: "[The Mass of St. Frances Cabrini] is very very sing-able and easy to learn. Can be done a cappella, with organ or piano or guitar; it can be done with a small congregation or with a big church, big choir and multiple instruments, not unlike Mass of Creation. If we all learn this one outstanding Mass, when we come together for common celebration our singing can be stronger and more easily faith-filled." – Jerry ChinChar, SM Mass Missal Mission Blog post, September 2011.

Fort Worth, TX: "[The Mass of St. Frances Cabrini is] very traditional (high church) with solid composition; good for traditional parish with or without a strong choir; composed for organ but can be used with piano and guitar; good choice especially when the assembly is more familiar with the new verbiage of the Roman Missal." .

Denver, CO: "The Mass of St. Frances Cabrini: Solemn Setting. Simple and direct hymn-like Mass of St. Frances Cabrini utilizes recurring melodic themes that will help you quickly introduce the new translation to your congregation." Archdiocese of Denver Music Committee.

St. Louis, MO: "I've selected Mass of St. Paul the Apostle for my parish. I like that it's very versatile. I like to play the organ, but other musicians who play piano or guitar can also play it." – Jeremy Boyer, Christ, Prince of Peach Parish in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis

Marquette, MI: "[Mass of Resurrection is] elegant, simple, beautiful…I think they are easily within the capability of a parish of modest means. The melodies will be easy to pick up by a congregation. And if every parish in the diocese will have at least this setting as a standard, it will make for great unity at diocesan Masses." - Father John Boyle, Caritas en Veritate blog post March, 2011

Marquette, MI: "Our Bishop wanted everyone on the same page, singing of one voice. The Mass of Resurrection is very sing-able and versatile. It works for very small parishes and, when you add in all the instrumentation, is quite grand. It will serve the Diocese well." Denise Foye, Director of Faith formation at the Diocese of Marquette.

Escanaba, MI: "We have chosen to use the OCP setting of Randall DeBruyn's Mass of Resurrection. The bishop of our diocese has asked us all to learn this one so that we have a mass setting in common when we gather for diocese-wide events." - Katherine LeDuc, Cantor at St Anne Parish in Escanaba, MI

Escanaba, MI: "The Mass of Resurrection has thoroughly composed Gloria and the whole setting respects the literary form of the new texts. I was very impressed by the elevated level style of the setting. If a Mass is going to be standard, it needs to work for both large and small parishes. This Mass is neutral ground." John Ignatowski, Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy at the Diocese of Marquette.

Saginaw, MI: "I am a musician at St. Hedwig Parish in Bay City MI. Our Saginaw diocese has chosen Timothy R. Smith's Mass of the Sacred Heart. It is in a comfortable key for singing, and has been easy to learn." Jan Spaulding, Musician at St. Hedwig Parish in the Diocese of Saginaw.

Baltimore, MD: "We chose two setting from OCP - Celtic Mass and Mass of Glory. I am the CME director and felt that these two were really appropriate for our parish because they haven't been used in years - so they will be learning 'new' music." - Patty Ruppert, CME director at St. Clare Church in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Hopewell, VA: "Our Parish has chosen the revised Heritage Mass, since the changes begin during Advent and we have used that during Advent in the past, plus the Latin counterpoint will give it a familiar feel." - Mike Walsh, St. James the Greater Parish in Hopewell VA

Horicon, WI: Heritage Mass[was the] highest rated by our cantors and choir director. In light of the approval of the USCCB and our own Archbishop we introduced the mass to our assembly on September 3 & 4. The assembly is doing so well, we will be teaching our next Mass!" - Mike Strock, Music Director/Pastoral Musician at Sacred Heart Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee