From Jeff Ostrowski at Corpus Christi Watershed:

THE FRATERNITY of Saint Peter put on a fantastic church music conference last week, and eighty people came from all over North America to attend:

Sacred Music Symposium • Spectacular Success!

"I challenge anyone to read those beautiful testimonies and then say there's no hope for church music in the United States!" – Jeff Ostrowski

Profile submitted by TCS member Maria7Steps

We are a Catholic family band called Simply4Him who believes that music was created to glorify God and to sanctify His people.  We serve in our parish and we are a part of a Catholic Charismatic Community called Couples for Christ. Our children are members of its ministries.  We cannot think of another place to be in order to learn and share not just God's music but everything about our faith. This is home for us!  
We would like to share with you the first album God worked on through our family. It's called 7 Steps (for the seven sacraments in contemporary style of music).  Available in digital stores.  God bless!  

Website:  SIMPLY4HIM.COM
Instagram:  SIMPLY4_HIM
Twitter:  SIMPLY4_HIM

 

By Jean Hopfensperger, Star Tribune staff, June 23, 2017​

Gregorian Chant, best known as the solemn music sung by robed monks of old, is enjoying a 21st-century revival — and the Twin Cities are at the heart of it this week.

Experts and students of the ancient sacred music from across the globe have gathered for what is billed as “the most in-depth teaching conference ... on sacred music in the world.” They’re honing their musical skills and bringing the solemn choral notes to several St. Paul churches... 

 

See why people have joined topcatholicsongs.com. Register as a member to send private messages to other members.

pws
I am in 2 choirs and I pull together all of the music.  Most of the other choir members need help getting music together so I scan in hard copies, and enlarge the music so that they can see it.  Instead of scanning the books if I can find it online it will be a big help.

hzaglul
I am Catholic and sing in my church choir. Love this form of prayer!
Horacio

Maria7Steps
We are a Catholic family band called Simply4Him who believes that music was created to glorify God and to sanctify His people.  We serve in our parish and we are a part of a Catholic Charismatic Community called Couples for Christ. Our children are members of its ministries.  We cannot think of another place to be in order to learn and share not just God's music but everything about our faith. This is home for us!  
We would like to share with you the first album God worked on through our family. It's called 7 Steps (for the seven sacraments in contemporary style of music).  Available in digital stores.  God bless!  
Website:  SIMPLY4HIM.COM
Instagram:  SIMPLY4_HIM
Twitter:  SIMPLY4_HIM

Bob H
I am a singer in my choir and sometimes am asked to select songs for Mass. I could use help at times.

Song Lyric:  TAKE ME IN WHEN I AM HOMELESS
By:  Dan Vi Nguyen
06/13/2017

CHORUS
On the pilgrimate to the house of the Lord, take me into your house, 
When I am sick and weavy, you come to restore my health.

VERSE
My walk on earthly life on journey of pilgrimate
I am homeless and you take me into your home
When I am in prison and you visit me
I am hungry and you feed me with bread and wine.

BRIDGE
Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ,
All the things you do for us is all good.

VERSE
Gather together in bread and wine
In the house of the Lord I praise you, Christ,
All day long I sing the song of praising
On earth I hear the man comes for our salvation.

VERSE
Be joyful when we all in the house of the Lord
There is no more pain and suffering 
So praise the Lord and glorify him in heaven
With his Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Hallelua, Hallelua, Hallelua!

I found this helpful summary of music planning guides at the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. I updated some outdated links. Also see our TCS resources page here: topcatholicsongs.com/Resources

Music planning links by publisher

Publisher	Link	Fee
Liturgical Press	Free Downloadable Music Planner – updated quarterly Liturgical Psalter Index by Psalm Number	free
GIA	GIAplanner.net - weekly suggestions Note 3 options at right	$129/yr $39/yr free
	Quarterly Planning Pages	free
	Choral music weekly suggestions	free
	GIA Quarterly - planning magazine	see site for details
Liturgy Help	Liturgyhelp.com - comprehensive liturgical planning site – Available in Australia. No longer available in the United States through GIA.	see site for details
OCP	Support materials for your missal program Accompaniment books, resources for music and prayer, quarterly planning tools and more	see site for details
	Today's Liturgy - planning magazine (paper and electronic)	see site for details
	Liturgy.com - comprehensive liturgical planning site Free online planning guide: Liturgy.com Planner	$129/year free
WLP	AIM - planning magazine (paper or electronic)	see site for details

1st Verse:
Before I felt anywhere near being a good man.
I was in an inner hell filled with fear, and like I couldn't
do anything positive,
thinking it's ok to be sinning as long as my wallet's thick...
But truth is, to be winning, it's more like give to the poor and sick.
I heard the call and I was quick
to embrace the Lord. But to adjust from my past
took time, but with grace I started discuss what is ours...
And that's the love of Jesus Christ
Who's above and gives us the light...
 

A new track from Alexander John (lyrics) and Richard Schletty (performer). Hip Hop Remix is also included in post. Please take a few minutes to listen and comment.

What's Left Is Beauty 

1st Verse:
So we go on in this quest for answers
And hopefully do what's best by removing our spiritual cancer...
I don't know how love can't be the way
As I flow I hope you get to know me as I pray...
GOD's perfect design
Was worth the wait and time...
To be one of his children is more than one can ask for
As we build buildings and have fun that's doing a task and being more...
The way to the light may take time and patience 
And we may be in for a fight against the night but it all makes-sense...
These words touch the paper with heart
But the saviour is the real creator of the true art...
The freedom to be who we want to be
From preaching to teaching to basking in his glory
May seem like a task if you don't know the story
But when I asked him about the light I realised darkness was boring

Hook:
GOD knows us better than anyone else
This track is more like a letter and I'm using my heart felt 

2nd Verse:
As the road gets more and more of a bumpy-ride
I know the core of it all is nothing-but-nice
So as I must-sing on this mic
It's like I'm hustling for the light...
But truth is I'm aware and I bet you are too
If you feel blue just stare at the world and you may see something new...
I only want to be
What GOD intended from me
I'm not pretending when I say all I want to see is peace...
So as I put the mic down after a track 
I look around for a good bite in town, praise GOD, he's got our backs...
The best thing about love is it's free
To rest and know a King is looking over us when we might see a dove it was all meant to be...
So paradise isn't too far away
Beyond the cameras-and-mics is where I wanna lay
And everyday until that day I will continue to pray

The Everlasting

God is shrouded in history, in mystery.
Prior knowledge infuses me, confuses me.

[refrain]
The Everlasting ever casting
mystic shapes on humanscapes.
Love poured down on every frown.
Take me to a place of wonder,
free of all disgrace and blunder,
where the truth is in the here and now.

Sundogs dancing, blinding youth, refracting truth.
Search for pathways to heaven's door, to evermore... 
  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jGND4EUJPU

Hail Holy Mary

You gave us Jesus, who lives with us today

Spotlight on Scott Aitken (from Scott's profile posted here at Top Catholic Songs).

Scott Aitken: Producer / SingerSongwriter / Engineer / Former Frontman for Leap of Faith, Sacred Heart Production Studios.

From a 3.9 GPA at Full Sail University to a Full-fledged audio recording and production studio, Scott Aitken has run the gamut of the music industry. Whether running the sound board for Rock and Roll Hall of fame legend Dion or making on-stage appearances with world-famous Tony Melendez, Scott’s fluidity in audio-tronics has placed him at the cutting edge of sound engineering and composition. At the age of twelve, Scott’s Brother brought him a guitar, and with just a few strums on the battered instrument, Scott was hooked. At age 16 Scott had landed a recording contract, but at the age of 18 he decided his musical career would be better off in his own hands, due to the limitations of musical creativity that go along with being on a record label.

Scott then devoted himself to mastering his craft of both music and engineering. He formed the group Leap of Faith and his song...

I wish you are mine forever 
In my heart you are the only one
Look up to the cross when I feel lonely
You choose me from the moment I conceive 
Teach me the lesson of obedience
To the 10 laws of commandments 
Take me from places of poverty 
Raise me up in the house of the Father
Give me the treasure of chastity
To love brothers and sisters as ourselves.
 

CHORUS
Finding my tone, finding my voices
In the chaos world
Isolate all the noise around me
To listen to your words speak from heaven.

VERSE
From mother wombs I heard the voices
Echo in the water and blood of her womb
So gentle and care of mother nature world
For a child about to enter the world.

VERSE
Fear not my child, you being protected
From the moment you conceive in me
You are made by my blood and water from me
And your bone is from the man at heart.

VERSE
The moment you enter this world
The Father in heaven knows your name
Knows your voices for the world
Father knows even a hair on your head.

BRIDGE
Father knows his child conceive for the world.

A shorter version of our dedication to Mother Mary, which we most often sing as a recessional hymn