The Music Ministry of St. John’s Parish has a three-fold mission:  To serve and praise God with our hearts and voices; to provide a loving and supportive environment where we can express our faith through our common love of music; and to encourage the congregation to experience a deeper and more joyful sense of worship through song.

How do I join the Choir?
If you are considering joining the choir, please contact the choir director listed on the front page of our Parish Bulletin or simply come to our weekly rehearsal.  We also gather 45 minutes before our scheduled weekend or holiday mass for preparation. We are always looking for instrumental musicians!

When are rehearsals?
Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM. to 8:30 PM. in the Church

Contact:
David Tapp, 215-295-4102 or musicdirector@stjohnpa.org

Patron Saint of Music
St. Cecilia was a cultivated young patrician woman whose ancestors loomed large in Rome’s history. She vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptized; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptized.

The two brothers developed a ministry of giving a proper burial to martyred Christians. In their turn, they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Appian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in her turn.

The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: “While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse.” It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, and musicians.