Music Ministry Program

St. Francis of Assisi has an active music ministry program with more than eighty adults and youth participating. There are many musical areas in which people of all ages may share and grow their musical gifts.

Adult Choir The following three masses at St. Francis are more traditional in terms of musical choices: Saturday 5:30 PM Sunday 8:00 AM Sunday 10:30 AM Weekly rehearsal for the above Masses is Wednesday at 7:15 p.m.

Youth Choir and Instrumental Ensemble Sunday 5:30 PM The music for this Mass is more contemporary, with guitar, conga, and percussion accompaniment. Sunday evening Mass is considered the Youth Mass but, both Adults and Youth participate in this ensemble. Singers, instrumentalists and percussionists are needed to help facilitate this liturgy. Rehearsal for this choir is 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon preceding Mass.

Adult Handbell Choir The Adult Handbell Choir meets Wednesday at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary. You do not need to know how to read music to participate. Ringers are needed. This is a very kind, funny, and hungry group. (They always go out to eat together after rehearsal.) Try one rehearsal it really is fun.

Children's Choir The St. Francis Children's Choir is for young people ages 7 to 12. There are currently about 30 children participating. The Children's choir sings at the 10:30 a.m. Mass for special occasions such as Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, Easter Day, and First Communion. Each year the Children's Choir puts on a Christmas play. This past year they presented "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the parish and for two senior citizens homes.

Instrumentalists Please consider sharing your gifts to help enhance the beauty of the liturgy. Currently at St. Francis we have three violins, one clarinet, one flute, one drummer, and one guitarist who rehearse and participate in weekly Masses. Playing for St. Francis is an opportunity to develop musical skills and make use of all the lessons you have had. We need you.

Other Musical Opportunities available at St. Francis Mississippi Talent Education (MTE), a not-for-profit organization, offers private instruction in traditional and Suzuki piano, flute, violin, cello, voice, guitar and percussion instruments for students ages three to adult. Ensemble opportunities for all orchestral instruments are provided for beginning to advanced students through the Madison County Youth Orchestra and the MTE Chamber Ensemble. The Choral Education program begins at age three and develops musical abilities through group theory classes. Classes develop musicianship skills in a sequenced manner through singing games, theory games, and instrument playing. The singing group Tapestry in Song is the performance representative of the Choral program. We believe that people making & creating music together develop a musical, cultural and personal exchange That is far-reaching and life-long. We believe that, "Music Made Together May Someday Heal Humankind." Visit the Mississippi Talent Education website for more information.