• Family Mass
• Choral Mass
• Youth Mass
• Young Angel Voices
• St Mary of the Angels Youth Choir
• Music at St Mary of the Angels


• Upcoming events

Director of Music Robert Oliver
Principal Organist Donald Nicholson
There are three sung Masses at St Mary of the Angels

Family Mass 9:00am

A Family Mass with Hymns, sung responsorial psalm and the Mass sung in English, led by a small informal singing group which meets 15 minutes before Mass. The singing is led by Robert Oliver and the organ is played by Gerard McGreevy.

Choral Mass 11:00am

The choir of St Mary of the Angels, directed by Robert Oliver, leads the singing of the Latin Ordinary (currently either De Angelis or Cum Jubilo).

The choir of St Mary of the Angels

The Gregorian Chants proper for the day are sung for the Introit, Alleluia and Communion, the Responsorial Psalm is sung in Latin, and the choir sings polyphonic motets before Mass, at the Offertory, Communion and for the recessional procession. In addition to Gregorian Chant, the repertoire includes music by Palestrina, Victoria, Monteverdi, Tallis, Byrd, Bruckner, Poulenc and Tavener. The choir practises every Thursday for two hours from 7:30pm in the choir room. There is an extra voluntary session on Friday nights at 7:30 for those who want to learn to read music including chant notation, vocal tuition etc.

Anyone is welcome to join the choir, entry is informal, there is no audition, the only qualification is a strong desire to sing. The choir's most recent recording A Solis Ortus Cardine ... from Lands that see the Sun Arise is available from the Parish Office for $25.

Download an MP3 (852KB) of the choir men singing the Alleluia for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 'Domine exaudi'.

The Cantor is John Sullivan, the recording engineer is Anthony Donovan, and it's from the choir CD 'A Solis Ortus Cardine'

Youth Mass 5:00pm

Youth Mass. The music consists of singing modern music with guitars and instruments. The group meets at 4:00pm to practise the songs and chants for the day. Anyone is welcome to join.

Young Angel Voices

Young Angel Voices has started again, and meets for an hour on Thursday afternoons at 4:30pm till 5:30pm in the Parish Hall. Led by Robert Oliver, they sing rounds, part-songs and unison songs, learn to use their voices and to read music while having fun.

Anyone between the ages of 8 and 12 is welcome to join, there is no audition.

Young Angel Voices made their debut at Carols with the Angels in December 2009.

St Mary of the Angels Youth Choir

St Mary of the Angels Youth Choir will start this year, meeting on Fridays at 5:30pm till 7:00pm in The Crypt. Those who have just left school, love singing but have nowhere to sing, can come along and sing with others of their own age. No audition, all sorts of songs, old and new, have some fun singing (learn vocal technique, sight-reading etc with Robert Oliver) then hit the town.

Anyone interested in joining any of these groups should contact Robert Oliver (04 934 2296) or eave their details with the Parish Office (04 473 8074).

Music at St Mary of the Angels

Music has always been an important part of life and worship at St. Mary's. There is mention of a choir as far back as 1843. In 1892 a predecessor to the present organ was installed in the previous St. Mary of the Angels. It survived the 1918 fire that destroyed this earlier wooden structure and did noble service for more than sixty years. When the present St. Mary's organ was commissioned in 1958, the (smaller) earlier instrument was moved to Christchurch where it gave many more years of service.