Read details of a Retreat for Music Ministers taking place in the Irish College, Rome from 12th – 19th July 2012. The course will be directed by Fr. Liam Lawton and accompanied by Julianne Woods.
Each summer the Pontifical Irish College in Rome offers courses of interest to people involved in the life of the Church in Ireland and beyond. This year we focus on music ministry and we look forward to working with choir directors, musicians, members of choirs and teachers. This will offer an opportunity to relax in the beautiful surroundings of the Irish College in Rome with opportunities for input, music workshops and to explore Rome and the Vatican.
Each day will begin with Morning Prayer and will include a liturgy celebrated in one of the many sacred places in the Eternal City. The retreat will include a study of the liturgical and scriptural settings of music and its uses, sessions on composition, composing and cantoring, a consideration of the Church’s understanding of the role of music in the liturgy, the spirituality of music, Irish liturgical music and sourcing resources. At the end of the retreat, people will go home with useful and valuable resources accessible to all.
The College has invited Fr Liam Lawton, diocese of Kildare & Leighlin to direct the course. Liam is an established composer of Sacred Music and his work has been published by GIA, Veritas and Verbum. He has recorded 12 collections of music and has performed and given workshops in much of the English speaking world. His music has become standard worship for many choirs in Ireland and beyond. This year he celebrates 20 years of music publishing. His Glendalough Mass is one of the Masses published by Veritas in the recent Anthology “Sing the Mass” and he is currently working on a new Irish language Mass setting.
Liam will be accompanied by Julianne Woods B.A. Mus., Grad. Dip. Ed. Mus., H. Dip. Theol., M.A. Chant and Ritual Song. Julianne teaches music at the Royal School in Cavan. Since 2006 she has been the Musical Director for the summer season at the Irish College, working with students, animating the Sunday Liturgy and the many weddings that take place in the College. Like Liam, Julianne is a post-graduate of the World Music Centre at the University of Limerick and has worked with Liam as a regular Cantor at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow.
The Irish College is located in its own grounds on the Coelian hill, in the shadow of the Coliseum and within a short distance of the main attractions that the eternal city has to offer. The College offers guests use of its two chapels, dining room, gardens including its roof top garden, swimming pool and tennis court.
Rome is a fascinating place to reflect on music in the life and worship of the Church. The retreat will include liturgies in the recently restored Irish College chapel which features mosaics by Marko Rupnik SJ, the Irish chapel dedicated to St Columbanus in the Vatican, the Basilica of Saint Cecilia, the catacombs and in Subiaco, the strikingly beautiful cradle of western monasticism located in the mountains east of Rome, St Benedict’s first foundation.
The course will take place from Thursday evening, 12 July, to Thursday morning, 19 July 2012. The total cost is €800. A deposit of €250 is required to secure a place. Many dioceses and parishes are happy to provide financial support to people involved in their liturgies to take part in courses such as this. Rooms are air-conditioned. You are invited to arrange your own travel to Rome. Transfer to/from the airport in Rome, entry fees, excursions, lectures, workshops and half-board are included in the cost. Those who wish to arrive prior to 12 July or remain after 19 July may do so subject to availability.
If you wish to reserve a place
telephone 00 39 06 772631
e mail ufficio@irishcollege.org