Cantors animate the sung prayer of the people of God through voice, presence, and gesture. They serve at the Sunday 8:00am Mass, weekend Mass ensembles, university liturgies, holy days, funerals, and weddings. Before serving in this ministry, cantors audition for the Director of Music Ministry and attend a training workshop.

Parish Community & Student-only Ensembles

Cantors at the Saturday 5:00pm, Sunday 10:30am (livestreamed), 7:00pm, and 9:00pm Masses visibly invite the assembly into congregational responses and songs, including the Responsorial Psalm. These cantors are part of the regular ensembles at those Masses.

Holy Days

St. John’s celebrates many liturgical solemnities and feast days throughout the year with music. The Music Director will ask trained cantors for their availability.

University Liturgies

Cantors visibly encourage the assembly’s song along with the special ensembles for celebrations including Welcome Week, Mass of the Holy Spirit, Red Mass, and Baccalaureate Mass. The Music Director will ask trained cantors for their availability. See more about university liturgies here.

Sunday 8:00am Mass

Cantors serve on a rotation at this Mass. They lead the congregation a cappella in simple chant settings of the Mass parts and the Responsorial Psalm, and they chant the entrance and communion antiphons. Detailed expectations for this Mass are here.

Funerals

Cantors minister to grieving communities by leading the congregation in sung prayer, bringing beauty and solemnity to funeral liturgies. Most funerals at St. John’s include music from a cantor and accompanist alone. The Music Director will contact trained cantors after the funeral planning meeting with the family. Funeral cantors are professional and receive a stipend. Detailed expectations for funeral cantors are here.

Weddings

Cantors animate the couple’s gathered community in celebration at wedding liturgies. Wedding cantors are professional and receive a stipend. Their contact information is listed on the St. John’s page of available musicians for weddings, and couples communicate with them directly. The Music Director is available to help couples and musicians plan the music for their wedding liturgies. Detailed expectations for Wedding cantors are here.