Choir & Music

"Those who sing pray twice." The participation of the musicians and the choir in our parish liturgies invites us always to share in a special expression of this spiritual art.

If there is a song in your heart, come and join them.

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The 10 am. Mass Choir is a growing part of the vital music ministry at St. Theresa. Comprised of volunteers from their 20's to their 80's, year-round residents and visitors, music readers and first-timers; it's a wonderful group to join.

The 10 a.m. Choir is also the group that participates in many other special services. They re singing in the Interfaith Service, 7 p.m. November 27th, the Christmas Midnight Mass, and all the Easter services from Ash Wednesday to the Easter Vigil and Easter Morning.

In addition to the 15 - 25 singers (the number changes with the seasons!) the group also has an organist, pianist, two guitarists and occasional flutists. If you play an instrument and would like to participate more fully in the mass, this group is for you too...

The group practices on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Please join us!

Witnesses - Experiences - Witnesses - Experiences

Hello! My name is Yvonne and I am the choir director at the 10 a.m. Mass. I joined the choir in 1993 during marriage preparation at St. Theresa under Monsignor McGinn. During the next year, I began to direct the children's choir and then the 10 a.m. choir. I left for Iowa for two years with my family as my husband pursued his doctorate and then returned again last year to once again direct the choir.

It was while I was in Iowa that I began to have a clearer picture of why I was involved in the music ministry. While there, we visited four different Catholic churches in search of the one that was the right fit for our family. In two years we never did come to feel at home at any of them. I came to realize there was nothing I felt I could be involved in. Only one church had a choir and it was for college students.

There were no other invitations for other ministries and attending mass just never felt quite right. I realized that for me to truly participate in the service, I needed to be a part of a ministry; sitting in the pews just wasn't for me!

As soon as we returned to the desert area and began attending mass at St. Theresa, the same fact held true. I again joined the choir and then began directing again, and finally once again, felt a true reason to attend and participate.

The people that comprise the choir at St. Theresa are the reason the music ministry is so special to me. They are a dedicated group that volunteer their time and sing with love. It is truly a gift that I am able to know and share my time with all of them. They reach far beyond their time with the choir. Some are Liturgical Ministers, readers, cantors at other services, Ladies of the Altar Society, involved with the food bank and ministry to the sick. They were there when both of my children were born, sang at their baptisms and have even helped me move- twice!

They are called to service far beyond the choir and I am proud and honored to know them all and participate in mass with them each week.

Thank you Yvonne B.

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