ST.

JOSEPH CHOIR
Parish of the Immaculate Conception
Bulan, Sorsogon

ST. JOSEPH CHOIR

HANDBOOK
(2022 - 2023)

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Holy, Holy, Holy are You Lord, the whole earth is full of
Your glory! How great is the Lord that made His
awesomeness and beauty manifest in Creation.
I pray that this choir ministry overflows with
Your glory; Father I pray that no matter what we face,
we wholeheartedly lift up Your Name. I declare that
when people hear us sing, I pray that they will hear Your glory
, I pray that they hear Your greatness,
in Jesus Name, we pray, Amen.
Isaiah 6:3
MISSION
The mission of the St. Joseph Choir is to serve God through
music and the Church through leading the people in singing
during mass. As well as, to enrich, inspire, motivate, and
engage in the community in hymns and sacred songs in the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist and other Liturgical
Celebration.
VISION
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St. Joseph Choir seeks to achieve our mission by:
1. Being rooted in Catholic Spirituality that seeks the
overall growth of the members;
2. Being committed to rehearsals;
3. Having discipline and respect for authority;
4. Learning new hymns and;
5. Being knowledgeable of the liturgy and various
liturgical seasons of the church.
“Your music and song are truly an instrument of
evangelization to the extent that you bear witness to the depth
of the Word of God, which touches people’s hearts, and to the
extent that you assist in the celebration of the Sacraments, in
particular the Holy Eucharist, allowing us to perceive the
beauty of Paradise.”
- Pope Francis, 3rd International Meeting on Choirs
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 they may wholeheartedly participate in the celebration of the
liturgy.
3. The choir consists of a music director or choirmaster,
coordinator, librarian, section leaders and members whose
roles and responsibilities are described in these by-laws.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ST. JOSEPH CHOIR

BY-LAWS
"The Lord does not call us to be soloists, but to be part of a
choir that can sometimes miss a note or two, but must always
try to sing in unison."
- Pope Francis
PURPOSE
1. This choir shall be known as the St. Joseph Choir.
2. The purpose of these by-laws is to help the choir succeed in
serving God through music, and the Church through leading
the people in singing during mass. The choir should always
exercise a genuine liturgical function (CCC 1143), and that
MUSIC DIRECTOR
1. The music director is the Maestro de Capilla in which he
will decide all the matters about the choir.
2. If the choir has more than 24 members the music director
will be assisted by an associate, in which he will appoint.
3. The music director is at the same time the Liturgical
Musician that will select songs in celebration of the mass and
or in other special events and occasions, set dates of
practices and rehearsals, and direct performances.
4. The music director auditions candidates and assigns them to
sections.
5. The music director has the power to reconstruct or change
the organizational structure and appoints.
6. The music director prepares the list of the songs of each
mass based on the scripture readings of the mass and
communicates them with the rest of the choir one month in
advance.

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 7. The music director leads the choir in the mission of singing
God's praises and care for each member as Christ care for his
flock.
8. Provide impartial and inspiring leadership.
9. If the music director, after praying for spiritual guidance,
determines that he or she is not a good fit for the choir at the
parish, he or she will resign his or her position to make room
for someone else for the good of the choir.
COORDINATOR
10. The coordinator supports the music director by exercising
leadership over matters not directly related to music.
11. The coordinator is appointed by and takes direction from the
music director.
12. The coordinator coordinates the decision-making process on
matters other than the music performed by the choir.
13. Depending on the size of the choir, if the choir has more than
24 members, the coordinator may be assisted by an assistant
coordinator.
14. The coordinator may or may not be a singing member of the
choir.
15. If the music director, after praying for spiritual guidance,
determines that he or she is not a good fit for the choir at the
parish, he or she will resign his or her position to make room
for someone else for the good of the choir.
LIBRARIAN
16. The librarian is also functions as the secretary that will keep
all the copies of music sheets, songbooks, and recordings of
the choir and will also serves as associate music director.
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17. If the choir has more than 24 members, may be assisted by
an assistant librarian.
18. The librarian, and or an associate, will take directions from
the music director.
19. The librarian maintains a list of music sheets and other
properties of the choir.
20. The librarian will keep an official copy of this by-law, and of
all the records of or from the choir.
21. The librarian keeps the choir directory containing the list of
members and their contact information.
22. If the librarian, after praying for spiritual guidance,
determines that he or she is not a good fit for the choir at the
parish he or she will resign his or her position to make room
for someone else for the good of the choir.
TREASURER
23. The financial year shall end on 31st July.
24. The treasurer keep all financial status of the choir. This
records are transparent to all the members and should be
reported monthly or as requested by the music director.
25. If the treasurer, after praying for spiritual guidance,
determines that he or she is not a good fit for the choir at the
parish, he or she will resign his or her position to make room
for someone else for the good of the choir.
SECTION LEADERS
26. Each of the choir has a designated section leader.
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 27. Depending on the size, if a section have more than 6
members. The section may be assisted by an associate
section leader.
28. The members of the section elect the section leader and
associate section leaders, if there is one.
29. Members of the section will notify their section leader if they
will be late or absent from rehearsal or performance.
30. The music director or coordinator communicates decisions
or information to the section leaders who in turn
communicate the decisions or information to the members of
the section.
31. Each section leader gives the contact information of its
members up to date including telephone number email
address and mailing address. Informations of the members in
each section is forwarded to the librarian who maintains a
choir directory available to all members.
32. If the section leader or assistant leader, after praying for
spiritual guidance, determines that he or she is not a good fit
for the choir at the parish, he or she will resign his or her
position to make room for someone else for the good of the
choir.
33.
MEMBERS
34. Choir members are baptized Catholics at least 16 years of
age willing to serve the Lord in the music ministry.
35. Before a candidate joins the choir, he or she auditions with
the music director who decides whether to admit or not the
candidate to the choir. Successful candidates are assigned to
sections.
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36. After the member passed the audition he/she will received a
parental consent form. Once the parent agreed and signs the
form, the qualified will have his/her own handbook.
37. If a member needs to take time off the choir, he or she
notifies the section leader if possible two weeks before
taking off.
38. Any member who wants to resign in choir, for whatever
reason, he or she notifies the section leader if possible two
weeks before leaving.
39. Romantic relationships within the members of the choir are
allowed only if it helps both partners to grow spiritually and
will not affect the choir as a whole and results to disavow.
40. Married persons are welcome in the choir.
41. All members should treat each other with utmost respect.
Bullying and discriminations are strictly prohibited and are
subjected to punishments or worst disqualification in choir.
42. Members of the choir should always exercise genuine
liturgical participation and function. (CCC 1143)
43. If a member, after praying for spiritual guidance, determines
that he or she is not a good fit for the choir at the parish he or
she will resign his or her position to make room for someone
else for the good of the choir.
GENERAL GUIDELINES, PROCEDURES, AND
EXPECTATIONS:
MANNERS OF A CHOIR
44. Arrives warmed up.
45. Is early or on time at least.
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 46. Maintains good relationship with other colleagues.
47. Is a good team player, does not “out-sing” his neighbor.
48. Is a good listener.
49. Adheres to requests by leaders and conductor.
50. Pays attention to the conductor.
51. Is not distracting or chat while on practice.
52. Maintains good posture.
53. Practices at home.
54. Is considerate to keep the practice room clean.
55. Dresses according to what is required.
56. Welcomes feedback.
57. Does not bully others nor discriminate, rather teach them in
good way.
58. Refrains from indulging little chat conversations that are not
related to music or in the song, until the session is over.
59. Does not pester others to join the choir even if they are the
best singers in the world.
SERVICE/PERFORMANCES
ETIQUETTE REHEARSAL RULES
60. The rehearsals should begin and end with a prayer, giving
thanks to the lord for the gift of music, offering the choir
singing to the Lord and asking for blessings for the success
of the service. Personal intentions and special mentions may
include in the prayer.
61. The choir rehearses at least once a week in preparation for
the next Sunday's mass and to learn new music for future
masses.
62. Rehearsal begins on time when everybody arrives at least 5
minutes before the scheduled time. Seats and the music
sheets are also prepared in advance.
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63. Sections take turns preparing the venue before rehearsal and
cleaning it up after. This arrangement shares the burden
among everybody, so no one in particular, is overburdened.
64. Rehearsals must end on the scheduled time in respect with
the time commitments made by the members.
65. Every member is responsible for helping keep his or her seat
clean until the end of the rehearsal.
66. Every member is responsible for making sure his and her
music sheet is in the proper place after the rehearsal.
67. If a member has a question, he or she raises a hand before
speaking; once the director asks the member to speak,
everybody listens to the manner with respect.
68. During rehearsal, to avoid wasting the group's time
everybody pays attention to the music director and avoids
engaging in conversation with others.
69. As soon as the introduction to a song is begun (to be played
by the instruments), everybody should silent and listens.
70. Regular meetings must be done after the rehearsal.
71. Before the choir sings at mass, in concerts or special events
and occasions, it should always start in prayer and that they
will be reminded that it is all for the great glory of God.
72. During mass choir members talked to each other only as
necessary regarding the music for the mass no other
conversation is allowed. We should always observed proper
manners and focus in the celebration of the Eucharist.
73. During mass choir members maintain a prayerful behavior
giving a good example to others.
74. A member cannot sing at mass or a concert unless she or he
attended the last rehearsal.
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 75. If a member cannot participate in a mass or concert, for
whatever reason, he or she show support for the choir by
being in the audience during the performance, if possible.
76. Members should come to mass or a concert in an agreed
upon-attire for the performance.
77. Members should come to a performance at least one hour
before the scheduled time for performance to allow for warm
up.
CHOIR DRESS CODE
78. In order to promote harmony and unity among members of
the choir, all within a particular choir will dress uniformly.
79. The Music Director after consultation to its member, and
recognizing the liturgical color on service, will decide the
appropriate attire.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
80. It is a good idea for the choir to go on a picnic or other team
building activity once every month.
81. Once a year it is a good idea for the choir to have a spiritual
retreat for at least one day with a mass and homily with the
spiritual talks in discussions and the opportunity to receive a
sacrament of penance.
82. Once a month it is a good idea for the choir to have Bible
sharing.
CHANGES/AMENDMENTS OF THE BYLAWS
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83. The purpose of this bylaws is to help the choir succeed in its
mission to singing God's praises and to lead the parishioners
in singing at mass if these bylaws are not helping achieve
this mission and are an obstacle to the mission they should
be changed.
84. Any choir member can propose changes to this violence by
writing down the proposal change and emailing the proposed
change to all members for consideration asking for Co
sponsorships.
85. Members who agree with the proposal email back the
proposal author saying they wish to be co-sponsors.
86. If a proposal is co-sponsored by at least 10% of the total
choir members, the music director brings up the proposal for
discussion and a vote within the next choir rehearsal.
87. The secretary keeps record of proposal including the name of
the author in cosponsors and the final status of the proposal.
88. The secretary updates the bylaws if there are changes in
emails it to every member.
89. These bylaws will be read in front of all members, that they
may understand it clearly and accept this throughly. The
librarian will provide an updated copy of this bylaws to
every member every year.
THOUGHTS ON CHOIR RULES
1. Rules work well when voluntary self-imposed rather than
imposed from above or outside.
2. Rules are meant for the good of the group as well as the
good of the individuals.
3. Individuals freely to join a group because they believe in the
group's purpose.
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 4. The purpose of the church choir is to sing God's praises and
inspired the community to sing.
5. Choir groups help the group, and the members achieve
choir's purpose.
6. If a rule does not make sense maybe it does not help achieve
purpose.
7. The choir should adopt rules that make sense and that served
its purpose.
8. It is best if members really join a choir and abide the rules.
9. Through this rules we hope to accomplish unity and a sense
of holiness among members of the choir.
10. All members of the St. Joseph Choir are expected to abide by
these guidelines and help in opening the minds and hearts of
the worshipping community, to give glory to God.
11.
12.
"You are the musical animators of the whole congregation.
Don’t take its place, depriving the people of God of the
chance to sing with you and bear witness to the Church’s
communal prayer.”
- Pope Francis
"To sing is to pray twice."
- St. Augustine
”We pray you please to help us as His fair praise we sing! We lift
our hearts in joyous song to honor Him this way.”
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-St. Cecilia
“I feel that our souls are moved to the ardor of piety by the sacred
words more piously and powerfully when these words are sung than
when they are not sung, and that all the affections of our soul in
their variety have modes of their own in song and chant by which
they are stirred up by an indescribable and secret sympathy.”
-Saint Augustine, Confessions, Book X, chap. 33, MPL, XXXII, 799ff.
“The singing of the Church comes ultimately out of love. It is the
utter depth of love that produces the singing. “Cantare amantis est”,
says St. Augustine, singing is a lover’s thing. In so saying, we come
again to the trinitarian interpretation of Church music. The Holy
Spirit is love, and it is he who produces the singing. He is the Spirit
of Christ, the Spirit who draws us into love for Christ and so leads to
the Father.”
-Pope Benedict XVI, “The Spirit of the Liturgy”, (SF, CA: Ignatius,
2000), p. 142.
"It's a dream come true, and with this music, with this Rossini, it's
unbelievable how to express the joy and express the joy of the
situation and the joy to play this music, to sing this music, it's really
fantastic."
-St. Cecilia
“Singing is a language that leads to the communion of hearts,” he
said. “Crossing every boundary, you spread a message of peace and
solidarity.”
- Pope Francis
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” Express the joy of the situation and the joy to play this music, to
sing this music, it’s really fantastic.”
-St. Cecilia

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the
rock of our salvation!
Psalm 95:1

ONCE A SAINT JOSEPH CHOIR ALWAYS A SAINT

JOSEPH CHOIR

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