Choir from St Patrick’s Parish, Mentone

JOYFUL singing in praise and worship to God was heard resounding from the Catholic Leadership Centre in East Melbourne on the evening of Friday 8 April, for the national launch of the Catholic Worship Book II (CWBII).

The launch was presented by the National Liturgical Music Board and was webcast live into parish and church centres around Australia.

The evening was punctuated with rousing hymns and songs from CWBII performed by cantors and the choir from St Patrick’s Parish in Mentone.

CWBII, which is published by Morning Star Publishing, contains 650 musical items including hymns, songs and psalms. Clare Johnson from the National Liturgical Music Board said CWBII is designed to underpin the Church’s liturgical year and the sacraments.

Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference officially launched CWBII, saying ‘This is really a significant moment of achievement’. Archbishop Hart recalled his time working on the administration of the first CWB. He said, ‘The liturgical music scene has changed so much over the past 40 years’.

Archbishop Hart expressed his delight in the new CWBII saying, ‘Catholic Worship Book II, what a wonderful book … it’s an attractive book, a complete book, printed on good paper, with clear legible music and text. So I do congratulate the publishers. I congratulate all those who worked so well and it seeks to follow our Lord’s exhortation to bring out of the treasury things both old and new.’

Bishop Patrick O’Regan, Chairman of the Bishops Commission for Liturgy, said, ‘I too am delighted to welcome the launch of this Catholic Worship Book II. It is, as you might have gleaned already, something that is extraordinarily comprehensive and balanced, with words and music from a range of local and overseas authors and composers. It presents music that is worthy and text that is stylistically rich, and theologically sound—Liturgical music that both speaks to our age and has stood the test of time.’

Bishop O’Regan spoke of the importance of liturgical music reminding everyone that, ‘The heart that sings is a heart that is in communion with God, our brothers and sisters, and our deepest self, and, as Pope Francis would remind us, the whole of creation.’ He expressed gratitude to the National Liturgical Board on behalf of the Bishops Commission for Liturgy.

Bishop O’Regan concluded by saying, ‘I heartily recommend this wonderful resource to you … A book like this even in a small country church, even with a modicum of singers, can sing the praise of God in ways that are profound and that not even people themselves can recognise.’

Catholic Worship Book II is the official liturgical music resource for the Catholic Church in Australia.

For a complete outline of contents, visit morningstarpublishing.net.au

Photo credit: Casamento Photography