"Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart"
- Ephesians 5:19
The Choir at the Vigil Mass sings two or three hymns, either traditional or contemporary, accompanied by piano, organ, and guitar. The proper chants, with their psalm verses, are sung at this mass in English.
This ensemble is lead by Luke Shalz, the Director of Music.
lshalz@stdombenicia.org
This contemplative early-morning Mass is adorned with sacred silence.
Skilled singers or instrumentalists are encouraged to reach out to Luke Shalz, Director of Music to discuss the possibility of volunteering musically at this mass.
lshalz@stdombenicia.org
The 9:00 a.m. ensemble enhances the spirituality of the Mass through spirit-filled music of contemporary origin. A small team of vocalists sings modern Catholic and gospel songs, accompanied by guitar, bass, and piano.
This ensemble is lead by Joseph Lucero.
joelucero@prodigy.net
This Mass is very traditional. A choir chants English propers with psalm verses, the Mass setting is a Latin chant setting from the Kyriale (like the Missa de Angelis or Missa Orbis Factor), and the offertory and communion processions are adorned by sacred music from composers like Palestrina, Victoria, Byrd, and Monteverdi. Usually, the Roman tone of the seasonal Marian Antiphon is sung after the final blessing. Music is accompanied by organ. Occasionally this Mass also has a flutist or brassists. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. in the Church.
This ensemble is lead by Luke Shalz, the Director of Music.
lshalz@stdombenicia.org
Esta misa se celebra en Español, usualmente con una homilía en Ingles. El grupo en esta misa utiliza música del Himnario “Flor y Canto”, así como la edición en español del Ignatius Pew Missal, “Canta La Missa” y otras fuentes tradicionales. El estilo es una mezcla de canto gregoriano, himnos folclóricos latinoamericanos, ritmo latino contemporáneo e himnos tradicionales. Este conjunto representa un sabor de música sacra que es reverente, tradicional y completamente latinoamericano. La música está acompañada por guitarra, órgano, flauta y piano. Los ensayos son los jueves a las 5:30 p. m. en la Sala María Magdalena.
Este grupo está dirigido por Luke Shalz, Director de Música.
lshalz@stdombenicia.org
This Mass is celebrated in Spanish, but usually with an English homily. The ensemble at this Mass uses music from the “Flor y Canto” Hymnal, as well as the Ignatius Pew Missal’s Spanish Edition, “Canta La Missa” and other traditional sources. Styles include an even mix of chant, Latin American folk hymns, contemporary Latin rhythm, and standard Western hymn music. This ensemble aims to represent a reverent, tradition-rooted, still thoroughly Latin American flavor of sacred music. Music is accompanied by guitar, organ, flute, and piano. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Mary Magdalene Room.
This ensemble is lead by Luke Shalz, the Director of Music.
lshalz@stdombenicia.org
Đây là Thánh Lễ bằng tiếng Việt, được cử hành vào Chúa Nhật đầu tiên của mỗi tháng. Trong Thánh Lễ này, phụng vụ được cử hành với các hình thức xướng lễ truyền thống của Việt Nam, cùng các thánh ca bằng tiếng Việt hoặc tiếng Anh.
This is the Vietnamese Mass, held on the first Sunday of each month. At this Mass the liturgy is celebrated with traditional Vietnamese liturgical chanting and hymns in Vietnamese or English.
At this Mass, the music is lead by parish youth leaders singing contemporary Catholic and worship hymns using the piano and the guitar.
This ensemble is lead by Brianne Dela Cruz, Director of Religious Education.
bdelacruz@stdombenicia.org
Our Mission:
The diverse music ministry at St. Dominic reflects the Dominican Order’s commitment to living out authentic, historically rooted Catholicism in a spirit of contemporary evangelism. Following Pope Benedict XVI’s liturgical vision, we serve with the knowledge that sacred music serves to dignify the liturgy, catechize the faithful and evangelize the community.
Our Style and Philosophy:
We often describe parish music programs as “traditional,” “modern,” “professional,” or “folksy”—labels that can be helpful, but ultimately limiting. At St. Dominic’s, we aim to move beyond these categories and toward a single, clearer purpose: to foster an authentic encounter with Christ as He is present in the Sacred Liturgy, however the music might be defined.
For some, that encounter is supported by praise and worship. For others, by the historic choral tradition of the Roman Rite. Yet the goal is not to promote a style, but to serve the liturgy itself. Regardless of our preferences, we strive to offer music that is both technically excellent and prayerfully sincere—music that gives fitting praise to God and draws hearts more deeply into His presence.
Get Involved:
If interested in getting involved, please reach out to Mr. Luke Shalz, the Director of Music, at lshalz@stdombenicia.org. Singers of all abilities are welcomed and wanted. There’s no way to become a singer without learning!
The Sanctuary Organ
The sanctuary organ is a roughly 85 stop, three manual Allen Renaissance digital organ which sings through 22 speakers. Its great, pedal, and solo divisions are located in the choir loft. Its primary swell division is located above the confessional. The choir division is located over the epistle side choir stalls and a swell antiphonal (of equal strength to the primary swell) speaks from above the gospel side choir stalls.
The Sanctuary Piano
The sanctuary piano is a 5’7″ Steinway Model M piano built in 1929 in Hamburg, Germany. The instrument was selected for its extremely soft, warm sound, which counteracts the effects of the live, reverberant acoustical environment of the large, hard-surface-rich sanctuary. The balance of the instrument’s unusually warm sound and the active acoustical environment produces a grand, satisfying, rich tone unlike the “clangy” sound produced by average-toned pianos placed in similar church spaces.
The Loft Organ
Installed in the 1980’s this organ is a combination of an unknown American instrument from the early 20th century and a Wicks home organ. Using numerous octave couplers, this 6 rank instrument can be expanded to sound more like a 12 or 18 rank instrument. The pipes visible above the choir loft railing comprise the Gemshorn and a Rohrflöte that spans from 8′ to a 1 3/5 extension. The swell box contains a 4′ Principal, an 8′ Flute of unusually warm variety (with 4′ and 2′ extensions), a gentle 8′ Erzhaler (and its celeste), an 8′ Fagott (and its 4′ extension), and two octaves of chimes. The pedal division contains 8′ and 16′ versions of the manual division stops, as well as a 16 foot resultant Bourdon.
