Beginning in October 2023, the SJW Music Ministry offers three diverse new First Sunday Choirs.  On the first Sunday of each month, singers will have the option to participate in:

• 4:00 pm Contemporary Ensemble at St. John Fisher Church
  • Rehearsals on the First Saturday of each month at 2:45pm in the SJW Music Center.
• 9:00 am Traditional Choir at St. Colman Church
  • Still forming!  Interested singers should complete an interest form (below)
• 10:00am Good Shepherd Ringers Handbell Choir at St. Maurice
• 11:00 am Chant Choir at Word of God Church
  • Rehearsals on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the choir loft at St Anselm.
  • Upcoming Rehearsal dates: October 17, November 21, December 19.

• The Choirs will not rehearse weekly. 
  • The 4pm Choir will rehearse at 2:45pm, immediately prior to singing their monthly Mass.
  • Exact rehearsal schedules for the 9am and 11am choirs will be determined once the groups are formed, but will generally be only once or twice a month.
• Volunteer instrumentalists are encouraged to participate
  • Our new choirs may feature: brass, wind and string instruments, guitars, keyboards, and percussion.  Interested musicians should contact Norm using the link below to discuss the possibilities and best "fit" for your instrument and interest.
  • Since our music is selected well in advance, instrumentalists will have ample opportunity to practice and feel well prepared before playing at Mass
• Membership is for adults and young adults, age 16 and older (Up to date Safe Environment clearances are required for all members age 18+)
• Musical knowledge and experience singing in parts is helpful, but not required,
• It is not necessary to audition for membership in these choirs.  

Our Sunday 10am Traditional Choir has it's roots at St. Maurice Church, but now boasts members from four of the component churches of St. Joseph the Worker Parish.

• The choir's SATB repertiore includes a wide variety of music, from classical and traditional, to contemporary and gospel.  Visit our Virtual Choir YouTube Playlist for a representative sample of the music we sing.
• Choir season runs from the week after Labor Day until Pentecost (in late May)
• The 10:00 am choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Music Center at SJF, beginning in late August.
• Beginning in the fall of 2023, the choir will sing at the 10:00 am Mass at St. Maurice weekly (except on the first Sunday of each month when members are encouraged to sing in one of our newly forming First Sunday Choirs). 
• Membership is for adults and young adults, age 16 and older (Up to date Safe Environment clearances are required for all members age 18+)
• Current membership includes singers ranging in age from their 20's through their 70's (maybe more - but I'm not gonna ask, so let's just go with 70's, shall we?)
• Musical knowledge and experience singing in parts is helpful, but not required,
• It is not necessary to audition for membership in this choir.  

This group started as just 8 students from Good Shepherd School. These ringers planned to play for one
mass in honor of Sr. Eileen’s 25th Jubilee, but a member from US Steel approached Mr. Herb Dillahunt
and asked if the group would play for a Christmas Party. Since then, the traveling Good Shepherd
Ringers were born.

Currently the program has one young adult group of 13 ringers that ring 5 octaves of Malmark
Handbells. Members range in age from 21 – 40+. The majority of the current ringers came to the
program with some musical knowledge. The core members of the group have been ringing together, on
average, for the past 10 years.  However, two novice ringers joined the Good Shepherd Ringers this past season and are now fully blended into the group with their more experienced colleagues.

This group rehearses on Sunday nights from 7 – 9 pm from the beginning of September until the
beginning of June. They play periodically at masses throughout the parish as well as traveling to play for
senior citizens groups, retirement communities, holiday parties, and public events. On average, they perform about a dozen Christmas concerts, eight Spring concerts, as well as a Lenten concert and end of the season concert in the Parish. They also perform for festivals and community day events in the
neighboring parish communities.

While reading music is preferred, it is not required to become a member of the handbell choir. New
members are first taught the basics of handbell ringing techniques before they even look at music. Once
ringers are comfortable with techniques, then we tackle being able to read and ring music. It does take
a lot of hand-eye coordination to be able to read the music on the page and make it come out of the
bells in your hands.

New members should be prepared to commit to a two hour a week rehearsal as well as being able to
play for liturgies roughly once a month. While auditions are not required, there are informal auditions
to help determine which size bell may be the best for each individual based on physical comfort and
previous musical experience. While there are no age restrictions, ringers must be in at least 6 th grade to
begin ringing due to the physical nature of being a part of this musical group.

To see the Good Shepherd Ringers in action, click here to visit our YouTube playlist.