WELCOME TO THE MUSIC MINISTRY OF ST. THERESA PARISH
Sacred music plays an essential role in the celebration of the Eucharist, and in all of the liturgical rites of the Church. St. Theresa actively supports the liturgy and the parish community through sung prayer and music played on instruments. We come together as a musical family within the parish to lift up and support all who join together to worship and pray. Come share your gifts or love of music with us, help us embrace the liturgy with the sounds of praise.
Be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
~ Ephesians 5:18-20
To learn more about the Music Ministry, contact David Bond, Director of Music
davidb@sttheresachurch.org, 847.359.2846 x 114.
OUR MISSION
Pray first, then Sing (or Play)!
We express and support our mission by:
—Leading those gathered together in hymns and sacred songs
—Respectfully preparing and practicing our music
—Praying with and for each other and the needs of our community and lifting up those prayers with our instruments and voices.
—Serving the community around us as evangelists in sung and
—accompanied prayer
ST. THERESA ADULT CHOIR
This long-established SATB choir is open to vocalists high school age and above and provides music at the Sunday 10 a.m. liturgy. This choir sings a variety of four-part music from traditional classics to works that are moderately contemporary. REHEARSALS: Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Choir Room (C).
JUBILEE CHOIR AND ENSEMBLE
This choir has its founding in the parish’s 75th-anniversary celebration and is a seasonal choir open to vocalists high school age and above. They provide music at the major feasts and celebrations of the Church and parish, singing a wide variety of genres and styles of music. REHEARSALS: Seasonally on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m.-8: 30 p.m. in the church.
ST. THERESA CHERUB CHOIR
The St. Theresa Cherub Choir is open to all children in grades 1-3, singing unison songs and hymns in a variety of styles and genres. The children’s choir provides an experience of sung prayer and education that supports an enhanced understanding of the Mass and seasons of the liturgical year, as well as a curriculum that is appropriate for these younger singers. This choir sings at select the Sunday liturgies and at other major feasts of the Church. REHEARSALS: Wednesday afternoons, 4:15-5:00 p.m. in room C, Pauline Center.
ST. THERESA YOUTH CHOIR AND ENSEMBLE
This ensemble is open to singers and instrumentalists in fourth through eighth grade. The group sings and plays a variety of styles in two-parts, often using percussion and handbells. This group is for young vocalists and instrumentalists who are looking to be challenged in the music they prepare (some level of reading music is required) and an opportunity to use their talents to serve their parish. This choir sings about once a month and at major feasts of the parish and Church. REHEARSALS: Thursdays, 4:15-5:15 in room C, Pauline Center.
LIFT INSTRUMENTALISTS
Join our teen and young adult instrumentalists as they come together to bring a whole new dimension to music for worship! This group generally serves weekly or as their schedules allow, at the 10:00 a.m. Members need to have some proficiency on their instrument. There are no rehearsals and members are encouraged to participate at other Masses if their schedule permits.
ST. THERESA CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE
The St. Theresa Contemporary Ensemble is singers and instrumentalists who enjoy serving in ministry with the music of a more contemporary style and genre. This group serves at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass. REHEARSALS: 4:00 p.m. prior to the Saturday evening Mass.
RESURRECTION CHOIR
The St. Theresa Resurrection Choir sings at parish funerals, providing comfort and support to families during their time of loss. The members of the Resurrection Choir participate in the funeral liturgies as their schedules allow. Funeral liturgies usually occur during the week at 10 a.m. Choir members are notified in advance of the date and time of the liturgy and come together about 20 minutes prior to the Mass. There are no formal rehearsals for this group.
CANTORS
Cantors are discerned through auditions and qualified skills.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Dear St. Theresa Parish,
My name is David Bond, and I am honored to be your new Director of Music!
My wife Megan and I moved to Chicago so she could begin her PhD studies in music composition at Northwestern University. We lived in the Washington DC area for 12 years, after attending the Catholic University of America together, where I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music composition and conducting. I then went on to work as Music Director at Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax, Virginia, and then Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in College Park, Maryland. But I am originally from Chicago, born and raised in Hyde Park, so this move is a sort of homecoming for me.
I first became interested in liturgical music after playing piano for the Paschal Triduum as an undergraduate. Seeing the way that music shaped and informed this three-day liturgy was eye-opening. Eventually, church music became a true calling for me, as well as a passion and a career. I’ve gotten the chance to make music in large venues with thousands in attendance and being aired on EWTN, but also at intimate Masses with a small but prayerful congregation. A Papal Mass, but also daily Masses in a chapel. With big church organs, trumpets, violins, and drums, and Masses with no instruments at all.
In all of this contrast, I’ve found one thing to be true: singing breathes life into worship. Singing animates us in a way that speech does not. And singing together unites us in a way that spoken prayer cannot. The congregation singing together at Mass is one of the best reflections of the idea of “one body, many parts.”
It’s my privilege to become part of the music tradition at St. Theresa’s! I look forward to meeting all of you.
David Bond
St. Theresa Catholic Church | 465 North Benton Street, Palatine, Illinois 60067 | 847.358.7760