Church of St. Pius X
300 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731
609-693-5107
Music Director: Nicole Baldelli - nbaldelli@churchofstpius.org
Organist: Joe Casilli - jcasilli@aol.com
The goal and purpose of Music Ministry is to enhance the experience and beauty of worship through music. Through strong musical leadership, music ministers encourage full, active and conscious participation in the Mass. Natural religious instinct urges man to honor God by means of music and to heighten his religious exaltation by joyous singing.
In the Old Testament God Himself commanded that the Temple music play an elaborate role. Songs of victory of a religious nature are mentioned in Exodus and in Judges. Often the prophets are elated by sacred music. King David beautified religious ceremonies by hymns and the use of instruments.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul speaks of “singing hymns to God”. In Ephesians, he speaks of “singing and making melody to the Lord” . In Revelations, “the twenty four elders are singing with full voice, Worthy is the Lamb….”Saints Augustine, Ambrose, Jerome and numerous other saints concurred that singing to the Lord is an exalted prayer.
Adults
The adult choir provides current and traditional music to accompany the Mass and other special services. Their primary ministry is to support and encourage congregational singing at the Mass. All Parishioners who desire to serve in the Ministry of Music, and are willing to commit their time and energy to weekly rehearsals on Wednesday evenings, are most welcome to sing in the choir, be an instrumentalist or cantor.
Praise Band
The Praise Band, under the leadership of Joseph Casilli is comprised of talented parishioners who want to praise the Lord with their musical talents. They play on the first and third Sundays of the month at the ten o’clock Mass. They practice on Thursday evenings.
Children and Youth
This music program features our children’s choir open to children in grades three through nine. They sing at the ten o’clock Mass on the third Sunday of the month. Practice is on Wednesday evenings.