A Letter from our Director of Liturgical Music & Organist

Dear parishioners,
I am grateful for the warm welcome you offered me here at St. Patrick’s and for the opportunity to serve this parish!
This past weekend, we began using a new Mass setting, and I want to introduce each of you to this setting, who composed it, and why I chose it.
“Mass of the Immaculate Conception” is a fairly recent setting composed by Dr. Peter Latona, the music director at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Those of you who have participated in the annual Right to Life March may have attended the Vigil Mass for Life there.
I chose this setting for a couple reason, but primarily because it strikes a balance between Gregorian chant and the congregational mass settings you may be more accustomed to, whether it’s the “Mass in Honor of St. Benedict,” “Heritage Mass,” or another commonly used setting. Gregorian chant holds a special place in my heart, my spiritual life, and my musical training. It is my hope, as the parish music director, that I get to share the musical and spiritual treasures of Gregorian chant as often as I can.
Another reason I chose this is because the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is, in many ways, the “Mother Church” of the United States, a place where all Catholics in America can gather and participate in the Paschal Mystery of the Eucharist. The Immaculate Conception is also the patroness of the United States of America. By singing a Mass setting from the Shrine, I hope it encourages a sense of union not only in our parish, St. Patrick’s, but also with our brethren in our diocese and the nation, under the protection of Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception.
Attached is a link to a recording of this setting from the National Shrine itself: https://shorturl.at/KVSNM
Saint Cecilia, pray for us!
Saint Patrick, pray for us!
Mr. Will Spinnenweber, M.M.
Director of Liturgical Music and Organist