Love for sacred music fuels St. Dominic’s concert series

by Peter Finney Jr.

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

One of the consistent themes of the pastorates of Father Wayne Paysse has been to raise awareness of sacred music among his congregation.

Now entering this third year as pastor of St. Dominic Church in New Orleans, Father Paysse has launched the St. Dominic Concert Series, which began in October with a centennial concert in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, the Italian opera composer who died in 1924.

St. Dominic will host the second concert of its series with a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” by the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans with members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. at the church, located at 775 Harrison Ave. in Lakeview.

When Father Paysse was a seminarian studying at St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, he was enthralled by the sacred music organized and taught by the late Benedictine Father Dominic Braud, the choirmaster of the abbey, under the direction of Benedictine Abbot Patrick Regan.

Sacred music ‘school’

“Abbot Patrick was a liturgist par excellence,” Father Paysse said. “He contributed international
volumes on the liturgy, and Father Dominic taught us music, and we also studied sacred art.

“I learned that the church has always been a patron of the arts. Look at the Vatican. Look at the great art, paintings, sculptures that the church has collected over the centuries to share. Art and music reflect the beauty of God. It draws you into the very presence of the Lord, and it also speaks volumes. It doesn’t use words. Music is like math – it’s pure, it’s clean, it’s lovely – and it touches the human spirit.”

The “Messiah” concert had its impetus from Steven Edwards, who plays the organ at St. Dominic’s 4 p.m. Vigil Mass and who is also the music director of the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans.

“He approached us with the possibility of having the concert at St. Dominic because the church and the space are perfect for it,” said Louis Oubre, music director at St. Dominic. “The ‘Messiah’ has such universal appeal. It’s a Christmas favorite, but it contains more than the story of the Nativity. It has Christ’s passion and resurrection – notably the Hallelujah.

“I think it provides a way for us to celebrate and reflect on Christ’s birth and our Catholic faith. It’s a way to bring the Word of God from the Old and New Testaments to life in beautiful music.”
Members of St. Dominic’s 12:15 p.m. Sunday Mass choir will join in the singing with 60 voices of the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans.

Centennial year

The Christmas concert is building up to a Lenten concert at St. Dominic in 2025 (not yet finalized) and then to St. Dominic’s centennial Mass on June 1 at 10:30 a.m., to be celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

St. Dominic was established in 1924 – staffed by the Dominican Fathers until 2022 – but the celebration had to be delayed by a year because of renovations to the rectory.

The “Messiah” concert will be repeated on Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Assumption Church, 923 Josephine St., New Orleans. Tickets can be purchased at symphonychorus.org or at the door. Prices range from $20 (student); $27 (general admission); $52.50 (premium reserved); to $77.50 (VIP reserved prime seats).

This year’s soloists for the “Messiah” will be Rachel Looney, soprano; Rachel Abbatte, mezzo-soprano; Kevin Rouchelle, tenor; and Richard Hobson, bass-baritone.

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