Saint Lawrence's Guild of Acolytes

A guild, consisting of men and boys who serve at the altar, meets periodically to learn and rehearse the rites of the Church. New members are always welcomed whether experienced or not. Senior members and clergy tutor new servers until they have achieved a necessary level of competence.

Saint Clare's Altar Guild

The altar guild prepares the altar and sanctuary for the liturgy, cares for the vestments and vessels used at Mass, prepares for special Masses and feast days.

Reader's Guild

The readers' guild is made up of those who are trained in liturgical reading and assist during Sunday Mass by reading the prophetic lesson, as well as throughout the year at special services, e.g., Tenebrae, the Easter Vigil, the Advent Procession, and the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Saint Genesius' Guild of Actors

Note: The St. Genesius Actors Guild is on a permanent hiatus pending restructuring.

Schola Cantorum

St. Mary's schola leads the parish in the Sunday Mass, as well as performing weekly anthems and seasonal choral preludes and postludes. The schola also provides the music for special services and is, by prior arrangement, available for weddings, requiems, etc. Membership in the schola is at the discretion of the choirmaster and requires an audition.

Contact Greg Larkin, choirmaster, at (818) 505-0235.

Saints Mary & Martha Guild

The guild consists of those whom God has given the priceless gift of hospitality and GREAT COOKING. Amy Bardwell, Barry and Michael Workman, and Jackie Yeager are to be found bustling in the kitchen every Sunday morning, along with the sainted others who donate their time, energy, and heavenly talents to fill fellowship time, not only with love and fun, but a revolving selection of gustatory delights, making our special feasts and occasions ever more memorable, year after year. You are invited to apprentice with the guild by lending a hand in the kitchen.

Usher's Guild

The ushers' guild assists during Sunday Mass and other special occasions to ensure a friendly welcome to our visitors and necessary assistance to worshipers.

"Schola Cantorum" is Latin for "School of Cantors." St Mary's Schola is under the direction of Greg Larkin, Organist & Choir Director.  Singing a Sunday or Festal Mass requires chanting traditional texts, as well as familiar hymns, which the Congregation joins in singing. The Schola chants the "Minor Proper" of the Mass. These usually make use of a solo Cantor, or pair of cantors, with responses from the rest of the Schola, in a sort of dialogue.

The plainsong chants used for the traditional Mass texts are in the modal forms. Eight modes were used throughout the early years of the Church. Some of these trace back to Jewish melodies used in the Temple before 70AD. The Anglican Missal uses simplified forms, which many in the congregation pick up, and are able to join the Schola in singing responses back to the Cantors.

For the most part, the traditional texts draw upon the Psalms, and other portions of Holy Scripture. In the "proper" for a Mass, in addition to the assigned Epistle and Gospel readings, are the Introit (or Entrance), the Gradual (when the Gospel Book is brought out to the 'gradus', or 'step', or to the midst of the people), the Offertory verse, and the Communion verse, customarily sung after Communion is completed. In the Easter Season, the Gradual becomes the Alleluya verse, adding the ancient Hebrew exclamation meaning "Praise the LORD!" At some masses, there is also a Sequence Hymn, drawn from ancient Latin Church poetry.

St Mary's Schola also sings from the great repertoire of composed music, spanning the centuries of inspired composition from early polyphony to modern. Much of it is from the English Cathedral & College heritage; but a good deal is from the European continent as well. American works are occasionally premiered at St Mary's, too.

Special musical programs are offered from time to time outside the framework of the Sunday Liturgy, such as an Advent Lessons & Carols service, before Christmas.

Those who are interested in joining the Schola make a big commitment. Joining means rehearsals both before and after the Sunday Mass each week. (This avoids midweek evening rehearsals for our far-flung group.) Mr Larkin will give auditions for those who are serious about this commitment. Sight-reading of music is especially useful.  St Mary's has four section leaders, but welcomes additional singers. It is demanding, but the results are rewarding.