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On the Feast of the Assumption, Saturday, August 15, 2009, we will celebrate our Ninth Annual Mass of Thanksgiving at a new location: the historic Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church, 43 W. Maple Avenue in Merchantville, New Jersey. The Solemn High Tridentine Mass will begin at 12 noon and will once again feature the Ars Laudis Festival Chorus & Orchestra.
The Mass setting chosen for this wonderful day will be Missa Sancti Nicolai (1772 )[Mass of Saint Nicholas] by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, also celebrated a Mass by Haydn on the Feast of Pentecost. Our Cantor, Mr. Nicholas Beck, a graduate of Westminster Choir College will direct the singing of the Gregorian Propers and Dr. Timothy McDonnell will be the conductor for this Mass.
We hope to celebrate this feast each year by the use of the great treasury of Sacred Music, especially the beautiful polyphonic Masses that are very infrequently prayed in their proper place; the Sacred Liturgy. We want to foster a greater love for the great works of our Catholic heritage.
In order to sponsor such grand music we cannot depend on our little parish of 500 families. We need the help of everyone in the Delaware Valley who wants to foster excellent sacred music as well as support professional musicians who have been blessed by God with a magnificent talent. I, therefore, appeal to you for financial assistance. We need to raise at least $7,500.00. Any money that is raised over the amount needed will be put directly in the sacred music fund.
If you wish to donate, please choose a category, write out a check to Mater Ecclesiae Chapel and fill in the name that you want printed on the donor list. When we receive the donation, we will send a letter acknowledging receipt that can be used for tax purposes. We will also put your name before the statue of Saint Jude, and specifically remember all the donors at our Novena to St. Jude on nine consecutive Wednesdays starting August 20th.
Thank you so much for any help you can give us.
Sincerely,
Rev. Robert C. Pasley, KHS, Rector
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