"In order that the Liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with Divine Grace lest they receive it in vain28. Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the Liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to insure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.
Second Vatican Council: Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: Ch.1:11

"The Parish Liturgy Group was formed as a sub-group of the Parish Pastoral Council. Two members of the Pastoral Council, together with choir leaders, the co-ordinators of Minister of the Word and Eucharist as well as other interested persons form our group.

Our primary focus is to foster the liturgical life of St. Patrick's Parish and so draw the people of God into the mystery of Christ's life. We do this by promoting and planning liturgies that will encourage full, conscious and active participation of the congregation. The Liturgical Calendar for Ireland is examined each month and a rough draft of events are prepared before each meeting. Upcoming events are examined and together we suggest ways of making each liturgical celebration more meaningful. We pay particular attention to how God's Word is proclaimed, how music is chosen, how an atmosphere of sacredness and revererence is created, and how the congregation can be encouraged to actively participate by means of gesture, word, song and service as well as by silence, stillness and listening. We are conscious that for liturgy to be meaningful it must feed the heart and mind as well as the body and soul. It must be linked to the Church's great mission to evangelise. At the end of each Mass we are sent out to evangelise - to be the Good News to our brothers and sisters in community and so fulfil the command of Christ to teach all.

Music Ministry

“The full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else...”
Sacrosanctum Concilium

“Singing is one of the primary ways that the assembly of the faithful participates actively in the Liturgy.”
Music in Divine Worship. USCCB

With the above in mind, singing in St Patrick's is primarily aimed at facilitating the participation of the congregation.  Hymn sheets, reflecting the liturgy of the day or of the season, are prepared for the congregation who are encouraged to join with the choir in the singing.  The choir members, who are well instucted in their role in the ministry of Music and the requirements of the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy and other documents, have wholly embraced the concept of leading the congregation in song.  The choir further enriches the celebration by singing alone its part-songs, Latin motets and other hymns from the Church's great treasury of  sacred music.

Recognising the importance of singing the Acclamations of the Mass, that is the Alleluia, Holy holy etc., the choir repeats the settings for a few weeks to allow the congregation to become acquainted with the music and thus, hopefully, join in, while the choir embellishes the music with harmony.

The Psalm of the day is sung each week.  Considering that there is a different Psalm for each Sunday of the Liturgy's three-year cycle, this is a major undertaking and challenge for the choir, with a new Psalm having to be prepared each week.

Singing at the Vigil Mass each Saturday evening is lead by a trained Cantor.  As on Sundays, the congregation are encouraged to take a hymn-sheet and join in the singing of the hymns, the response to the Psalm and the Acclamations.  A special dialogue setting of the Mass-parts was prepared for the Vigil Mass, whereby the priest may lead with the Cantor and congregation responding. The participation of the people at this Mass is very encouraging.

In order to protect copyrighting, the parish purchases an annual licence with Calamus for the printing of the hymn-sheets.

St. Patrick's Church: Mr Brendan Mc Court

St. Nicholas' Church: Ms Deirdre Morgan

Organist: Mrs Sarah Coggans

Dundalk Gospel Choir: Ms Pamela O'Connor Moneley

Our Ministers of the Word Coordinators are:

St. Patrick's Church: Ms Katriona Loughran

St. Nicholas' Church: Ms Anne Newell

Our Ministers of the Eucharist Coordinators are:

St. Patrick's Church: Ms Rose Bailey

St. Nicholas' Church: Mr Paddy Carroll.