St Francis Choir

New Mass Premiere at St. Francis

(L to R: Franciscan friars Tom Ritchie, Peter McGrath & Barry Kirby celebrating their 40^th anniversary to Priesthood,

with the Choir of St. Francis of Assisi (Photo: Max Herford)

Sunday 10^th July 2005 was a day of double celebration for St. Francis of Assisi Parish Paddington, on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of Ordination of three Franciscan friars and the premiere of a new Mass by renowned Australian composer, Richard Connolly.

St. Francis Church was filled to capacity with family, friends and parishioners for a concelebrated Solemn Mass to mark the 40 years of priestly service given by Fathers Peter McGrath, Tom Ritchie and Barry Kirby. The friar-priests in the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) were ordained on 10^th July 1965 at Mary Immaculate Church, Waverly, by franciscan Bishop James Doggett.

Adding to the celebration was the premiere performance of a new mass setting composed by Richard Connolly dedicated to the friars, choir and people of St. Francis Parish. Titled "A Little Festive Mass of St. Francis -Missa Pax et Bonum", it is composed for SATB Choir, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and organ. The Mass incorporates the greek "Kyrie eleison" and the traditional latin texts for the Gloria and Agnus Dei. The Sanctus (Holy,Holy,Holy) starts with the current English text, sung antiphonally by the cantors and assembly, and leads into a choral extension in latin. Director of Music at St. Francis, Bernard Kirkpatrick described it as "a great honour to have such a beautiful new mass setting composed and dedicated to the friars, choir and parish by such a distinguished Australian composer. Richard Connolly has made a significant contribution to liturgical music and is internationally acclaimed for many enduring works, especially his hymns such as "Seek O seek the Lord", "In faith and hope and Love", "O Jesus crucified", "Help of Christians" and the "Song of Cosmic praise" just to name a few.

The celebration concluded with the choir and assembly singing the Gregorian "Te Deum", a 5^th century hymn of thanksgiving traditionally sung on significant occasions, followed by morning tea in the friary.