WELCOME TO ST. PAUL'S PARISH!
WELCOME TO ST. PAUL'S PARISH!
St. Paul's Parish
MUSIC AT ST. PAUL'S
Music at St. Paul’s Harvard Square
At St. Paul’s Harvard Square, music is not simply an accompaniment to the liturgy - it is a vital expression of faith, beauty, and prayer. Our church is home to one of the most acclaimed Catholic choirs in the United States, whose music has enriched worship at St. Paul’s for generations.
Each week, the choirs offer the Proper Gregorian Chants, continuing a tradition at St. Paul’s that dates to the consecration of the church in 1923. Their mission is both sacred and musical: to serve the liturgy with excellence while inviting the congregation into deeper, more joyful participation - all within the breathtaking acoustics of Saint Paul’s.
Music for Every Liturgy
Masses at St. Paul’s offer distinct opportunities for prayer and participation through music:
Sundays (during the academic year):
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9:30 AM Mass: The parish’s fullest expression of congregational singing, led by the dedicated and enthusiastic Parish Choir.
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11:00 AM Solemn Mass: A magnificent celebration featuring congregational singing and beautiful choral settings of the Ordinary and other sacred texts offered by the St. Paul’s Choir of Boys & Schola.
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5:00 PM Harvard Students’ Mass: Music by the Harvard Catholic Schola at St. Paul’s aided by the Student Mass Choir, blending congregational singing with beautiful choral settings.
Weekdays (during the academic year):
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12:10 PM Masses: A rich musical offering featuring music for boys’ voices alongside a varied selection of beloved hymns (Tuesday-Friday)
A Destination for Sacred Choral Music
St. Paul’s is also a celebrated venue for choral concerts, welcoming audiences and renowned ensembles from around the world. Alongside its own concert series throughout the year, the church has hosted some of the finest names in choral music, including The Tallis Scholars, Stile Antico, the Vienna Boys’ Choir, Skylark, Blue Heron, the Handel and Haydn Society, and the Harvard Choruses.
Whether in the solemnity of the liturgy or the splendor of a concert, music at St. Paul’s invites us to encounter the beauty of the sacred musical tradition - and to discover how profoundly music can lift the heart toward God.
Director of Music
Associate Director of Music
Music Administrator
La Madeleine,Paris, France
ST. PAUL'S PARISH CHOIR
Whether you’re an experienced choral singer or simply love to sing, you have a home in the Parish Choir! We’re a dedicated, welcoming group that rehearses on Thursday evenings and leads music at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass, elevating the worship experience for our parish community. Open to all ages and backgrounds. If you can read music, that’s a plus - but enthusiasm is just as important! Contact Associate Director of Music Nara Lee to learn more.
HARVARD CATHOLIC SCHOLA AT ST. PAUL'S
This audition-based ensemble learns and sings repertoire from the Catholic tradition of sacred music (including chant, polyphony, and traditional hymnody), provides music at 5pm Student Mass on Sundays, and performs in an annual concert. Learn more.
LITURGICAL MUSIC WORKSHOP: HISTORY AND PRACTICE
Academic Year, Sundays 2:30 - 4:00 PM
This workshop invites participants to learn and sing chants, hymns, and psalms, chosen for their beauty and/or because they celebrate a season or special feast days, while learning about their history and place in prayer. Open to all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels, including beginners. Learn more.
